UFC 280 was blockbuster after blockbuster. Many questions were answered for those who won. many answers have now arrived for those who lost. So what’s next for those who competed in Abu Dhabi?
Belal Muhammad & Sean Brady
his wasn’t part of the main event, but it sure should have been.
A high-quality performance by Muhammad put an end to Sean Brady’s 15-fight unbeaten run. Belal certainly stapled his name as someone to take serious at 170 and showed he is about that life by calling out both Leon Edwards AND Khamzat Chimaev. Both fighters are likely to fight other opponents in the coming months, hopefully on the same card in the UK.
If Belal is seeking to keep up his form in quick succession, however, Gilbert Burns is looking for an opponent at UFC 283 in January. This would be an ideal fight for both Burns and Muhammad and would make a statement on who may be next for the title.
Brady on the other hand may be fighting behind his current rank to regain momentum. Sat behind Brady in the rankings are Vincente Luque, Shavkat Rakhmonov and Jorge Masvidal. All but one of those fighters are also coming off losses so a matchup between any of the three would make sense for the American.
Katlyn Chookagian & Manon Fiorot
We have a new contender in the women’s flyweight division. Champion Valentina Shevchenko is yet to name her next opponent. It is quite possible, after controlling Chookagian on the feet Valentina may be in for a scrap.
Sitting high and mighty with five wins in a row it makes perfect sense for the Frenchwoman to get herself a title shot. After her performance at UFC 280 who can argue?
Katlyn Chookagain on the other hand fell short in Abu Dhabi. If she had won it would likely have been a title rematch for the American. Not going her way however Chookagian may be in the same position as she was before the fight, fighting down the rankings.
Murphy vs Andrade is set for UFC 283 therefore Katlyn may look to compete against one of the two flyweights to keep her name at the top end of the rankings.
Beniel Dariush & Mateusz Gamrot
A high-level performance of both sides of this war on the UFC 280 main card.
Don’t doubt Dariush. From world-class grappling defence to the dropping of Gamrot in the third round, Beneil Dariush is the real deal. Beneil undoubtedly deserves someone in the top 3, if not for the belt. Making it clear he is willing to fight another 10 times to get that belt, it is clear his eyes are set on gold.
If it is not a straight title fight, it is a number one contender shot for the 155’er.
Gamrot showed true heart during this bout. The polish lightweight lost minimal stock and showed he can fight with the rest of the top 10 lightweights. The top of the lightweights is like a VIP guestlist, however, possibly being the hardest to enter in the UFC. A bout between 11th-ranked Damir Ismagulov or 13th-ranked Jailin Turner would be a perfect bounce-back against top-level opponents.
Sean O’Malley & Petr Yan
What a fight. ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley has truly welcomed himself into the bantamweight elite. In a three-round war with one of the best 135’ers in the UFC, O’Malley has truly proved the nay-sayers wrong.
No one has ever looked as good on the feet in the UFC against Yan as Sean O’Malley did. Dana White had already slated the winner of the bout for a title fight, and it only seems fair after that performance. From 11th ranked to a number one contender, Sean has jumped the queue in style. If O’Malley is to be told he needs one more bout then it seems fitting that the UFC make the O’Malley vs Marlon Vera rematch to determine the number 1 contender.
Yan is now on a two-fight losing streak. The good news is he has a whole division that would be desperate to prove they can compete with the likes of Yan. Merab Dvalishvili and Marlon Vera are two fighters coming off wins ranked below the Russian and would be fitting opponents for the former champ.
Aljamain Sterling & TJ Dillashaw
Two things to take from this bout: Aljamain Sterling is still the champion and TJ Dillashaw is one tough man. Marc Goddard confirming TJ had prior knowledge of his injury and still going out there to fight shows just how much he cares about winning gold.
Aljo now has a new challenge to overcome in ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley. Fighting on the same card means hopefully the bout can be made in good time. Aljamain Sterling is the real deal, it may not be too much time that he aims for double champ status too. A 145 bout between Sterling against whoever is champion at featherweight at the time would be exciting. A possible return of Henry Cejudo also creates another window of possibilities for the funkmaster.
TJ is one of the best bantamweights to do it in the UFC. He has seen it all in the sport, had highs and lows and has the resume to prove it. Claiming he has had shoulder problems since April it’s likely the man just needs time off. Although that may sound ridiculous as he had a whole two-year suspension, a war against Sanhagen back in 2021 and his shoulder problems this camp shows the need for time off. Whoever is to take Dillashaw on his return however is in for a war.
Islam Makhachev & Charles Oliveira
Islam Makhachev is now the new undisputed lightweight champion. All of the hype has been proven. From out-striking to out-grappling Charles Oliveria, Makhachev has succeeded Khabib Nurmagomedov. UFC 280 will go down as his night.
The world is Islam’s oyster. In a division, he was regularly avoided all must come to him for their shot at gold. A fight between Featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski was sat cage side for Islam’s victory. Dana White said that he would be fighting the winner of this bout there is an undoubted fight-of-the-year contender on the horizon. Islam had no respect for ‘the short guy’ Volkanovski and hopes to beat him in his backyard in Australia.
Charles Oliveira had complete respect for his opponent but now finds himself in a tricky predicament. Promising he will get his belt back he now needs to prove himself of deserving that rematch. With Dariush needing an opponent in the top 5 this may be a perfect chance for both athletes.
Who stole the show at UFC 280?
Featured image credit to Embed from Getty Images
