Oddsmakers are leaning toward Islam Makhachev ahead of his first UFC title fight.
Charles Oliveira will be taking on Makhachev for the title of lightweight in UFC 280’s main event in Abu Dhabi. The event takes place Oct. 22 at Etihad Arena in the promotion’s return to the Middle East for the first time in one year.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook , Makhachev has been a big favorite ever since Saturday’s UFC Long Island broadcast. A winner of 10 straight, Makahchev is currently the -225 favorite to join his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov in the 155-pound titleholder history books. Oliveira is back in the +195 field as an underdog to win the title that he has never won within the octagon.
A wager of $100 on Makahchev, who has an implied winning probability of 69 percent, would return almost $45 in profit. The same wager on Oliveira, whose implied win probability is about 34 percent, would return a $95 payout.
Oliveira is riding an 11-fight winning streak, which includes a first-round submission win over Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 274 in May. Du Bronx had lost 0. 5 pounds and was subsequently stripped of the championship he won and successfully defended against Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier respectively in 2021.
