Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will attempt to win back the belt he was stripped of when he faces Islam Makhachev in the UFC 280 main event on Saturday. Oliveira (33-8, 1 NC) was stripped of the 155-pound title at UFC 274 in May after missing weight by a half pound during the official weigh-in. While he finished Justin Gaethje in the first round, the lightweight title became vacant. Makhachev (22-1) is ranked No. 4 in the division and is riding an impressive 10-fight winning streak. Despite the win streak and Makhachev being the highest ranked fighter in the division that hasn’t lost to Oliveira, “do Bronx” questions whether Makhachev earned the UFC 280 title shot on his merits or his ties to former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov
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Charles Oliveira: ‘Islam Makhachev got the title shot because of Khabib’ – MMA Weekly