This weekend, we will arguably see one of the best cards of all time at UFC 280. It’s not hyperbole either. The card is absolutely stacked from the opening prelims all the way through the main event. For context, the prelims are better than most Fight Night main cards.
The fights alone this weekend should generate an incredible amount of interest. However, Dana White revealed yesterday that it looks like the two champions after Saturday already have their first opponents.
In speaking with Robbie Fox of Barstool, White revealed that UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (25-1) is likely going to be next for whoever is the lightweight champion. In addition, White hinted that whoever wins the Petr Yan (16-3) – Sean O’Malley (15-1) fight is also likely to be next for the bantamweight title.
UFC 280 Title Picture
Of course in the main event this weekend, Charles Oliveira (33-8) takes on Islam Makhachev (22-1) for the vacant lightweight title. Granted, everyone in the world looks at Oliveira as the champion after the Arizona Athletic Commission botched his last weigh-in which cost him the title.
Whoever wins this fight gets a date with the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. Volkanovski has completely dominated the featherweight division and there are a lack of fresh challengers. Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett might end up fighting for an interim title while Volkanovski goes for champ-champ status.
Volkanovski has said in the past that he would want to defend both titles should he win. In the co-main, the UFC bantamweight title is on the line as Aljamain Sterling (21-3) meets former champ TJ Dillashaw (17-4).
Incredibly compelling fight and now we know that the winner will face off against Yan or O’Malley. Yan lost a razor close fight to Sterling to lose his title. So with a win, it makes sense that he’s right there. However, if O’Malley wins, it’s going to upset a guy like Chito Vera.
Vera owns a win over O’Malley and has gone on an impressive winning streak. However, no win he has matches up to a win over Yan. Combine that with the star power O’Malley possesses and you have his case for a title shot whether people like it or not.