Oliveira, Makhachev to fight for vacant lightweight title at UFC 280
A UFC lightweight champion will be crowned this fall.
Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev are set to meet for the vacant title at UFC 280 on Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the promotion announced Saturday.
Oliveira is the division's most recent champion. He was stripped of the title ahead of what was to be his second defense against Justin Gaethje in May after missing weight by 0.5 pounds.
Oliveira went on to submit Gaethje in the first round to cement himself as the No. 1 contender and earn an opportunity to win the belt back.
Makhachev, the No. 4-ranked contender and a protege of former champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, will finally get a crack at UFC gold after winning 10 fights in a row. The Russian grappler is coming off a TKO win over Bobby Green in February and holds a 22-1 career record.
UFC 280 will also feature a welterweight tilt between surging contenders Belal Muhammad and Sean Brady.