Watch Charles Oliveira vs Islam Makhachev UFC 280 Live online and Free TV Channel #UFC280
Elsewhere, Yan is also back in action when he takes on rising contender Sean O’Malley. “Suga” is looking to enter the title picture against his toughest competition to date. Another bout between potential contenders is also on the main card when Matuesz Gamrot takes on Beneil Dariush at lightweight. Plus, welterweight contenders Belal Muhammad and Sean Brady are set to throw down in the featured prelim bout with plenty at stake.
With so much happening on Saturday night, let’s take a closer look at the full fight card with the latest odds from Caesars Sportsbook before we get to our staff predictions and picks for the PPV portion of the festivities.
How can I watch it?
Islam Makhachev (pictured) is coached in part by childhood friend and former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov
(Getty Images)
The card will air live on BT Sport Box Office in the UK – at a cost of £19.95 – with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights
Time for the big ones – starting with Dariush vs Gamrot
Gamrot is sensational and is on the rise but will never have faced anyone like Dariush. The Iranian-born American is in the conversation for a title shot but cannot quite get the level of hype around him to demand it. Fair play to him for taking on a lower ranked, hungry contender, he’s got his work cut out tonight.
Fiorot wins by unanimous decision
‘The Beast’ earns the biggest win of her career so far and earns the dubious prize of heading towards a clash with Valentina Shevchenko.
‘I think everyone in the division will talk about Valentina, I’m no different,’ she says.
In the hands of the judges
Fiorot secured a takedown late in the third and in a close fight it may just have made the difference. I certainly wouldn’t like to put any money on it though. One punter put $250,000 on a finish!
The third will decide it
Not exactly one for the ages so far. Both are looking busy without staying that busy but Fioriot is now the favourite on the live odds. It looks like 1-1 on the cards to me.
Competitive first five mins
Fioriot landed a lovely right hand early on and Chookagian narrowly missed with a headkick that could have proved decisive. An even contest so far and one of these women needs to grab it by the scruff of the neck to use that tired old football cliche.
First up – Katlyn Chookagian vs Manon Fiorot
A No 1 vs No 6 flyweight curtain raiser for the main card here and the only women’s fight on the card between two classy operators.
Here’s how Dan Hardy sees it…
Hardy is one of the most thoughtful and incisive analysts in the game and gave his thoughts to Sportsmail on tonight’s main event.
Of all the many plot points surrounding UFC 280 this Saturday, the weight of psychological pressure on Islam Makhachev is among the most fascinating.
UFC 280 fight card, odds
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
Islam Makhachev -190 vs. Charles Oliveira +160, vacant lightweight title
Aljamain Sterling (c) -175 vs. TJ Dillashaw +150, bantamweight title
Petr Yan -270 vs. Sean O’Malley +220, bantamweights
Matuesz Gamrot -190 vs. Beneil Dariush +160, lightweights
Manon Fiorot -210 vs. Katlyn Chookagian +175, women’s flyweights
Sean Brady -140 vs. Belal Muhammad +120, welterweights
Caio Borralho -200 vs. Makhmud Muradov +170, middleweights
Nikita Krylov -170 vs. Volkan Oezdemir +145, light heavyweights
Abubakar Nurmagomedov -165 vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev +140, welterweights
Armen Petrosyan -220 vs. A.J. Dobson +180, middleweights
Muhammad Mokaev -1000 vs. Malcolm Gordon +650, flyweights
Karol Rosa -300 vs. Lina Lansberg +240, women’s bantamweights
With such a massive main event on tap, the crew at CBS Sports went ahead with predictions and picks for the main card. Here are your pick makers: Brent Brookhouse (Combat sports writer), Brian Campbell (Combat sports writer, co-host of “Morning Kombat”), Shakiel Mahjouri (writer), Michael Mormile (producer) and Brandon Wise (senior editor).
Mahjouri: Saturday’s main event is a coin toss, the perfect pairing of stakes and intrigue. Oliveira has repeatedly proven that avoiding the ground game will only delay the inevitable. Oliveira will eventually knock you down or take you down and finish the fight. Perhaps Makhachev presents the answer in the form of a strategic takedown game and stifling top control. There is just something about Oliveira’s striking improvements and record-setting submission game that makes me side with him, especially considering the leap in competition for Makhachev. I’ve been guilty of picking against Oliveira multiple times. I think I’ll rock with “Do Bronx” this time.
Sterling vs. Dillashaw
Campbell: As long as his body holds up at 36 following yet another one-year layoff and major knee surgery, Dillashaw has the dynamic skills, well-rounded game and temperament to be a major problem for Sterling. He also has more ways to potentially win, meaning Sterling’s chances somewhat depend upon him executing his gameplan effectively and maintaining control. The problem is that Dillashaw is rarely dominated in wrestling the way former champion Petr Yan was in his rematch loss to Sterling. Dillashaw has the motor to go late and the grit to fight through anything in order to get there, similar to how he scratched and clawed through four rounds on one leg last time against Cory Sandhagen. If Dillashaw can turn this into more of a kickboxing match, he just might have the edge against the often criminally underrated defending champion. While we can’t ignore Dillashaw’s shady past in terms of drug testing, we must equally admit that age, injury and layoffs have not done much to downgrade his elite standing. The very best of Dillashaw remains as difficult to beat as anyone in this historically deep division.
Brookhouse: When he is on his game, Sterling is a very effective fighter who can change a fight on a single mistake from his opponent. Were Dillashaw more active, I may lean toward him and his combination of boxing and counter-wrestling. Instead, Dillashaw has one fight since January 2019, a split decision win over Cory Sandhagen in a fight where it seemed Sandhagen deserved the nod. A Dillashaw win isn’t out of the question by any stretch, but Sterling may simply be able to outwork a rusty fighter in a very close bout.
Mahjouri: Sterling and Dillashaw both have awkward footwork and plenty of wrestling experience in their back pockets. Sterling’s win over Yan was narrow, but it showed growth in the aftermath of the fight he appeared to be losing 11 months prior before a disqualification earned him the title. Dillashaw is certainly no slouch, but I have doubts about how far he can take this comeback having only fought once in the last 33 months. A split-decision win over Sandhagen was a great first step, but Sandhagen remains a rung below championship level. Expect Sterling and Dillashaw to play for points before Sterling eventually gets the takedown and takes over.
Yan vs. O’Malley
Campbell: Is Yan a better overall fighter with a much more respected resume versus elite competition? There’s no question about it. But rarely has MMA seen a fighter as dynamic and confident come up the ranks like O’Malley. The truth is we just don’t know how good O’Malley really is or whether he actually does have the type of intangibles needed to put his injury TKO loss to Marlon Vera behind him. But given O’Malley’s huge upside commercially and the time already missed for suspensions and slow matchmaking, it’s time to find out right now. O’Malley already knows a victory would allow him to leapfrog the field at 135 pounds and secure the next shot at the title. Even if he’s not better than Yan and even if he never fully lives up to the enormous hype which has followed him, that doesn’t mean O’Malley doesn’t still win. He’s long, explosive and creative. And provided he can hurt Yan enough early to try and activate the former champion’s desperate want to avoid a three-fight losing skid, O’Malley just might be able to line him up with the type of explosion which could end the fight. “Suga” certainly has the type of red-hot momentum, even with his inconclusive result against Pedro Munhoz, to exclaim that it’s certainly possible.
Mahjouri: This is a steep, steep step-up in competition for O’Malley. Yan is a measured and slow starter, but he should be conscious to pick things up after the first round. O’Malley is a sniper on the feet but the direction of his fight with Pedro Munhoz, prior to the unfortunate no-contest, did not suggest to me that he is ready for a world title shot. Yan has the patience to avoid recklessness and the power to make O’Malley wither. A slow start is likely, but I expect Yan will take over in the second round and get O’Malley out of there before 15 minutes are up.
Brookhouse: O’Malley can get the win if he brings his aggression to the Octagon. That said, the tougher the opponent, the more hesitant O’Malley has been in the Octagon. He looked positively frozen by the threat of Pedro Munhoz in his last outing and Munhoz wasn’t doing much in that fight. Look for Yan to work over O’Malley’s legs at range and just put out enough output that freezes O’Malley and leads to a clear decision
Chelsea have agreed a 35 million euros fee with PSV for new winger while Arsenal and Brighton have done the same for Leandro Trossard.
Chelsea are simply not holding back in the transfer market. The club have reached full agreement with PSV Eindhoven for Nonny Madueke for a fee of €35 million.
Madueke is the 3rd offensive signing Chelsea are signing this January having Brought in Joao Felix and Mudryk earlier.
It remains to be seen what direction Chelsea are taking with so many signings but things will be clearer when they have all their players available. As it stands, Madueke is the 11th player currently under Chelsea custody who can play on the wings.
Arsenal on the other hand have completed their first winter signing after reaching agreement with Brighton for the transfer of Leandro Trossard.
Trossard has wanted out of Brighton after falling out with their manager and with his contract expiring in June, Arsenal have got him for a much reduced fee.
Trossard is Arsenal’s alternative to Mudryk who joined Chelsea after the blues offered Shakhtar Donetsk’s asking prizlce for the Ukrainian m
AC Milan vs Salzburg
Europe – Champions League
Date: Wednesday, 2 November 2022
Kick-off at 21:00 UK/ 22:00 CET
Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Both AC Milan and Salzburg are in the running for a spot in the knockouts of the Champions League, and currently they are separated by a single point in the group table. In this final match-day of the group stage, expect a fierce clash between the two.
Milan are the reigning Italian champions, and they of course have that confidence going into this crucial game. Moreover they are at home for this final group stage fixture, where they will be vociferously cheered on by their loyal fans.
It is also to be noted that they are champions of one of the top-five leagues in Europe, who are pitted against an opponent from a league that is nowhere near the Serie A in terms of quality.
Moreover, pressure is not something new for the Italian title-holders. The last season they were chased by arch-rivals Inter Milan almost through the entirety of the second half of the season, and they still managed to lift the trophy at the end.
As such, expect a confident and determined bunch of Milan players at the Stadio Giuseppe this Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Salzburg are ready for the fight. They already recorded a draw in the reverse fixture, and will be willing to give it all at this final hurdle.
They have been on a good run for quite some time – so much so that their only defeat in the past three months came against the two-time European champions Chelsea.
Furthermore, they are on a long streak of great performances on the road. In fact, the last they lost away from home was back in July, and before that in April.
Surely expect a thrilling encounter this Wednesday, as the two lock horns. Anticipate goals from either end of the pitch.
AC Milan vs Salzburg Head-to-head (h2h)
The reverse fixture ended in a 1-1 draw.
Other than that AC Milan have a 100% winning record.
They kept clean sheets in all but one clash so far.
The combined scorecard for the past three meetings is 5-1, in their favor.
AC Milan vs Salzburg Predictions
Milan are on a winning streak at the moment, and they scored ten goals from the past three fixtures. They are also at home, where they have been on a great run for quite some time now.
On the other hand, Salzburg too are in great form. They even managed to deliver some great performances away from home, and scored in plenty all through this stretch.
Expect a high-scoring thriller in this final group-stage game between the two.
Juventus vs PSG
Europe – Champions League
Date: Wednesday, 2 November 2022
Kick-off at 21:00 UK/ 22:00 CET
Venue: Allianz Stadium.
The Parisians could be counted as the best team in Europe at the moment, after of course Manchester City. But it is no argument that their fearsome front trio is finally clicking, and they will be the favorites to pull off one more win this Wednesday against Juventus.
The Old Lady are just in so much mess. They are not even in the conversation for the title in the Serie A, and their European exploits this season has been simply subpar.
As of now they are placed second to last in the table, level with the dead-last placed Maccabi Haifa. They managed to win just once so far this whole campaign, and no points for guessing against whom the sole win was registered – Maccabi.
And more than that, apart from that win, the former Italian champions have a 100% losing record. After defeating Haifa at home, the Italians lost the very next fixture against the same opponent.
Also, disregarding the bottom-most placed team, the Italians scored the least number of goals as well as conceded the most in the group.
Meanwhile, the Parisians just got no chill. They scored the most in the group, and conceded the least. Just the last match-day, they slotted seven goals past their opponent, with all three of their front trio getting on the scoresheet.
Moreover, the reverse fixture also ended in a win for the French champions.
Surely expect the in-form PSG to deliver another win this Wednesday against the struggling Juventus.
Juventus vs PSG Head-to-head (h2h)
The latest encounter ended in a 2-1 win for PSG.
The last four clashes had goals from both teams.
Previous four meetings had three or more goals.
Not once have the hosts kept a clean sheet at this ground.
Juventus vs PSG Prediction & Analysis
Juventus lost their latest CL game by conceding four goals, and all through this season they have been struggling with their defense. On top of that they are already out of contention for a spot in the Round of 16, and now all that remains for them is a third-place finish.
On the other hand, the Parisians are going after the top-most spot. They are in great form, and they also defeated this rival in the reverse match-up.
It is also to be noted that the last Christophe Galtier’s men lost was back in March, against arch-rivals Monaco.
By the looks of things, surely expect a win for PSG this Wednesday. And considering that both teams will be going for a win, chances are high for goals to come in plenty
Gamrot is sensational and is on the rise but will never have faced anyone like Dariush. The Iranian-born American is in the conversation for a title shot but cannot quite get the level of hype around him to demand it. Fair play to him for taking on a lower ranked, hungry contender, he’s got his work cut out tonight.