UFC 280 | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

Dana White reveals latest ploy to entice ex-UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov from retirement

UFC president, Dana White has revealed that his latest plan to encourage former lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov to snap his 2019 retirement from the sport has been rebuffed – as the undefeated Dagestani approaches three years away from the Octagon next month. Khabib, a former undisputed lightweight champion under the promotion’s banner, made his final […]

Khabib, a former undisputed lightweight champion under the promotion’s banner, made his final Octagon walk in October 2019 atop the promotion’s UFC 254 pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi, UAE – submitting then-interim champion, Justin Gaethje to successfully unify the lightweight belts.

Following the second round win, Khabib Nurmagomedov confirmed his retirement from professional mixed martial arts competition amid the passing of his coach and father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov earlier that year.

In March of the following year, Khabib officially relinquished his undisputed lightweight title, and has since taken a prominent coaching role at home base, American Kickboxing Academy, as well as heading up Florida-based promotion, Eagle FC.

However, in the time since his retirement, Khabib has been unsuccessfully persuaded by both White and promotional brass to reconsider a return to the sport.

Revealing his latest failed plot to land a Khabib return to combat sports, White saw the suggestion of a potential grappling venture rebuffed by the undefeated Sambo specialist.

“Khabib’s (Nurmagomedov) retired,” Dana White said on The Jim Rome Show. “I just reached out to him (Khabib Nurmagomedov) recently to see if he’s interested in something and he’s like, ‘I’m retired, brother, I’m done.’ I don’t think Khabib ever comes back.”

“It was something different, I was trying to get him to do a grappling match,” Dana White continued. “He’s like, ‘I’m done, I’m retired.’ I think that when his father passed away, that was a wrap for him. He’s just focused on training other guys and helpgin them become world champions.” (Transcribed by Mirror)

Khabib Nurmagomedov will return Octagon-side at UFC 280 next month in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Next month in the main event of UFC 280, Khabib’s most high-profile coaching assignment to date comes in the form of a vacant lightweight title fight between former division champion, Charles Oliveira, and his protégé, Islam Makhachev.

Paddy Pimblett backs Sean O’Malley in Petr Yan fight at UFC 280: ‘He could knock him out’

Polarizing UFC lightweight prospect, Paddy Pimblett has claimed that streaking bantamweight contender, Sean O’Malley should be given his flowers for stepping inside the Octagon against former division champion, Petr Yan in October at UFC 280 – regardless of outcome in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Pimblett, yet to crack the official lightweight top-15 following a trio of […]

Pimblett, yet to crack the official lightweight top-15 following a trio of Octagon victories since his September promotional debut last year, is currently targeting a fourth Octagon walk to come before the close of this year in a North America debut at UFC 282 in December.

The Liverpool finisher featured in the co-main event of UFC London back in July against Jordan Leavitt, defeating the Syndicate MMA grappler with an eventual second round rear-naked choke. The victory followed prior submission and knockout wins over Kazula Vargas, and fellow UFC alum, Luigi Vendramini, respectively.

Paddy Pimblett believes Sean O’Malley’s clash with Petr Yan is a “win-win”

Previewing O’Malley’s trip to ‘Fight Island’ to share the Octagon with Dudinka bruiser, Yan next month at UFC 280 – Pimblett, who recently ran into the Montana striker at UFC London, claimed O’Malley has the power on disposal to finish Yan and land a massive upset victory.

“It’s a win-win,” Paddy Pimblett said of Sean O’Malley’s fight with Petr Yan during a podcast appearance with Steve-O. “Even if he (Sean O’Malley) loses, everybody is gonna be like, ‘Oh, give him his due, he got in there with (Petr) Yan.’ I just think it really is a win-win for him. As long as he doesn’t get knocked out, you know what I mean.”

“That’s what I mean, he could win, he’s got that power,” Paddy Pimblett continued. “He could knock him out.”

Last time out, Dana White’s Contender Series alum, O’Malley battled to an eventual second round ‘No Contest’ against Pedro Munhoz after landing an inadvertent eye poke, leaving Munhoz unable to continue.

As for Yan, the former undisputed and interim bantamweight champion co-headlined UFC 273 against champion, Aljamain Sterling, dropping a split decision loss to the Uniondale grappler in the pair’s rematch.

Islam Makhachev claims Leon Edwards was ‘lucky’ at UFC 278; ‘Kamaru is going to beat him’

No. 4 ranked UFC lightweight Islam Makhachev is gearing up for his first UFC world title opportunity when he meets Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight championship. Before stepping into the Octagon at UFC 280 for his main event showdown with ‘Do Bronx,’ Makhachev discussed Leon Edwards‘ historic fifth-round knockout of ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Kamaru […]

No. 4 ranked UFC lightweight Islam Makhachev is gearing up for his first UFC world title opportunity when he meets Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight championship.

Before stepping into the Octagon at UFC 280 for his main event showdown with ‘Do Bronx,’ Makhachev discussed Leon Edwards‘ historic fifth-round knockout of ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Kamaru Usman to capture the UFC welterweight title. With a comeback straight out of an inspirational sports film, fans and fighters have not stopped talking about Edwards’ come-from-behind victory. However, not everyone was impressed.

Speaking with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Islam Makhachev believes that ‘Rocky’ was “lucky” and that a trilogy bout with Kamaru Usman will result in ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ reclaiming the welterweight crown.

“Edwards [got] lucky because [Usman] beat him all five rounds, almost,” Makhachev said. “First round, [Edwards took] him down, take his back, but other rounds [Usman] beat him very easy, took him down many times and smashed him there. When they’re going to fight again in rematch, 100 percent I think Kamaru is going to beat him because Edwards have same problem, always with wrestling guys.”

While most have marveled at Leon Edwards’ brilliant set-up that led to the massive head kick knockout, Makhachev appears to believe it was nothing more than a fluke.

Islam Makhachev Unimpressed by Charles Oliveira’s UFC Run

Islam Makhachev believes it’s his time to shine in the UFC. As the chosen successor to UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, many are curious to see how the Dagestani fighter stacks up against a competitor like ‘Do Bronx’ who will be by far his biggest challenge thus far inside the Octagon.

Of course, Makhachev doesn’t see it that way. In an interview on EPSN’s ‘DC & RC‘ Makhachev believes that Oliveira’s recent success is a direct result of fighting opponents with little to no grappling.

“He’s lost in the UFC seven times. He’s not gonna be upset if he loses one more time. People finished him seven times in the UFC and this guy’s champion in my division. I’m very upset because of [this].

“Everybody who says Dustin Poirier or Justin Gaethje or other guys … they’re all guys that are old, they have money, they don’t challenge,” Makhachev said. “We have new blood. Me, [Mateusz] Gamrot, Beneil Dariush, these are really tough guys for him. Because Dustin Poirier or Justin Gaethje, they’re never grappling, just striking. That’s why this is easy fight for him. But he knows Islam Makhachev is a very hard fight for him.

“All fighters who he beat, all striking. I’m gonna take him down very fast. Listen, Tony Ferguson had a little bit of grappling, he couldn’t finish him. Tony Ferguson was a hard fight for him. He fought all [three] rounds because Tony Ferguson knows something about grappling, not too much, but he knows something.”

Makhachev Doubts Oliveira Really Thinks He Can Win At UFC 280

UFC lightweight Islam Makhachev has called bluff on Charles Oliveira’s confidence heading into their title fight at UFC 280 later this year. On October 22, the vacant 155-pound championship will be on the line at 2022’s first Abu Dhabi-held…

Continue Reading Makhachev Doubts Oliveira Really Thinks He Can Win At UFC 280 at MMA News.

Charles Oliveira predicts first round win over Islam Makhachev at UFC 280: ‘I have firepower in my hands’

Ahead of his massive vacant lightweight title fight against his fellow surging division force, Islam Makhachev at UFC 280 in October, former undisputed champion, Charles Oliveira remains confident of landing a first round finish over the Makhachkala native on ‘Fight Island’. Oliveira, who currently rides a division-best 11-fight winning streak, has secured finishes in each […]

Oliveira, who currently rides a division-best 11-fight winning streak, has secured finishes in each of his three title fights under the UFC banner, most recently defeating former interim titleholder, Justin Gaethje with a first round rear-naked choke at UFC 274 back in May.

Forcing a vacant title fight in two months’ time, Oliveira missed the lightweight title limit by half a pound for his Arizona matchup with Gaethje – setting up a vacant title fight against American Kickboxing Academy phenom, Makhachev.

Charles Oliveira touts his “firepower” as he predicts a first round finish at UFC 280

Opening on many markets as what may come as a surprising betting underdog, Charles Oliveira has predicted a first round finish over Makhachev – who is in the midst of a 10 fight winning spree of his own. And has not been finished since a 2015 knockout defeat to Oliveira’s compatriot, Adriano Martins.

“You can be sure it won’t go past the first round,” Charles Oliveira said of his UFC 280 tangle with Makhachev during an interview with Brazilian outlet, Ag Fight. “I’ll be moving forward all the time as I said. I have firepower in my hands. And my Jiu-Jitsu, you know very well.” (Transcribed by SportsKeeda)

Prior to his victory over Gaethje earlier this year, Oliveira landed the vacant title with a second round knockout over Michael Chandler back in May of last year, before securing his sole successful title defense with a third round standing rear-naked choke win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 in December.

Makhachev, a staple of AKA under the tutelage of both Javier Mendez, and former undisputed lightweight kingpin, Khabib Nurmagomedov – earned his vacant title outing off the back of a 10-fight rise, culminating in a February ground strikes win over Bobby Green.

Oliveira Presents The Real Reason He Accepted Makhachev Fight

Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira has dismissed speculation about why he accepted the fight against Islam Makhachev, explaining the real reason behind his choice. On October 22, Oliveira will look to regain his place on the 155-pound thr…

Continue Reading Oliveira Presents The Real Reason He Accepted Makhachev Fight at MMA News.