3 questions that will be answered at UFC 280

Three questions that will be answered at UFC 280 … we hope.

UFC 280 takes place on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, and hosts one of the deepest cards of the year. The headliner for Saturday is the lightweight championship bout between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev. The card also features Aljamain Sterling vs. TJ Dillashaw for the bantamweight title, and Sean O’Malley vs. Petr Yan, which UFC president, Dana White recently confirmed would determine who challenges the winner of the title fight previously mentioned.

Even before this card was announced, questions were already raised with regard to the featured fighters. And while it is no surprise that the stakes are extremely high for anybody who steps into the Octagon, some have bigger chips on their shoulders than others. For these fighters, Saturday presents an opportunity for them to erase all of the question marks tied to their names.

Is Sean O’Malley the real deal?

The tattoos, the colorful hair, the charisma, the knockout power. O’Malley wasted no time making noise in the UFC’s bantamweight division since he was scouted on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017. His flare in and out of the octagon was the genesis of O’Malley becoming an immediate fan favorite.

O’Malley boasts a 15-1-1 record (7-1-1 UFC) with four performance bonuses and two fight-of-the-night honors. But a lot have questioned the level of competition he has faced so far in his career. The two blemishes on his record are a KO loss to Marlon Vera and his last bout against Pedro Muhnoz getting ruled as a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke.

Fans want to see O’Malley truly tested, and on Saturday, he is going to the deep end fighting former champion and No. 1 bantamweight Petr Yan. No. 11 fighting No. 1 is a massive jump, but the UFC is no stranger to fast-tracking rising stars. At the rate the O’Malley’s stardom is rising, a win against Yan does not only mean dollar signs for the company but a title shot for O’Malley. It will be the ultimate test of his ability and a chance to prove what the buzz is all about. Saturday can either derail his hype train or solidify his spot as a contender in one of the UFC’s marquee divisions.

Can TJ Dillashaw still compete at a championship level?

Dillashaw is easily one of the greatest to ever compete in the bantamweight division. After winning his last bout against Cory Sandhagen in a controversial split decision, Dillashaw took a year off after suffering a knee injury during the fight. On Saturday, he makes his return and has the opportunity to become a three-time UFC champion. However, beating Aljamain Sterling will not be an easy task for the 36-year-old.

After getting stripped of the title and receiving a two-year suspension for PED use in 2019, Dillashaw looks to regain his title and clean up his name. The fact that he is currently ranked No. 2 in his division despite the significant amount of time he spent away is already impressive. To reestablish himself as a champion at this point in his career would be an incredible feat for him, furthermore solidifying his status as one of the division’s all-time greats.

Is Charles Oliveira the lightweight GOAT?

Several other questions factor into this one. Is the GOAT the one with the flawless record? Do your losses mean anything if you end up becoming a dominant champion later in your career? Does it go to the guy who was dominant from the beginning? Or the guy who went through adversity and came out a legend? Where does Oliveira stand in the GOAT at 155 pounds conversation if he beats Makhachev on Saturday?

In his current eleven-fight win streak, Oliveira has made quick work out of some of the lightweight division’s best. Despite losing his title to the scale, he looked unstoppable in his last showing against Justin Gaethje. It was only a matter of time before he crossed paths with the raging Islam Makhachev, and on Saturday we will see the culmination of one of the biggest clashes in UFC lightweight history.

But there is a lot more in it for Oliveira aside from regaining his title and becoming a two-time champion, as the whispers of lightweight GOAT can not be any louder. Most people would argue that Khabib Nurmagomedov is the GOAT at 155 pounds as it stands and that Makhachev is the second coming of Khabib–some even say that he is better. There is no denying that Makhachev is by far the biggest threat to Oliveira, and a loss could set the Brazilian back in a big way. However, a win on Saturday means Oliveira had beaten the top four contenders in the division. That on top of being the holder of the most finishes and submissions in UFC history solidifies his consideration for the greatest lightweight of all time.

UFC 280: Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev takes place on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, live from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Follow along with FanSided MMA for all your news and highlights.