Report: Sterling-Dillashaw title fight added to UFC 280

A bantamweight title bout between champion Aljamain Sterling and TJ Dillashaw will take place at UFC 280 on Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Alexander K. Lee of MMA Fighting reports.

Sterling-Dillashaw was initially reportedly targeted for UFC 279, but the promotion stopped pursuing it for the Sept. 10 card once Khamzat Chimaev and Nate Diaz agreed to square off in the main event.

Sterling has held the 135-pound belt since March 2021 when he scored a victory over Petr Yan by disqualification after getting hit with an illegal knee. He retained the title in a rematch in April, pulling off the upset by split decision.

Dillashaw is coming off a split-decision win over Cory Sandhagen in July 2021, which was the former champion's first Octagon appearance since serving a two-year USADA suspension.

Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev are scheduled to meet for the vacant lightweight title in the UFC 280 main event.

A bout between Beneil Dariush and Mateusz Gamrot will also be added to the UFC 280 card, according to ESPN's Brett Okamoto.