Abu Dhabi: Bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley was courtside this weekend at the Atlanta Hawks took on the Milwaukee Bucks at the Etihad Arena – the same location he will be in for the biggest fight of his UFC® career later this month. 
 
The NBA is in Abu Dhabi for the first time with two exhibition pre-season games between the Hawks and Bucks as part of NBA Game Week 2022. O’Malley, a keen basketball fan, is currently in the UAE ahead of his showdown with Petr Yan at UFC® 280: OLIVEIRA vs MAKHACHEV on October 22. 
 
Ranked 12 in the 135lbs division, ‘Sugar’ has the opportunity to propel himself up the rankings with a win over former champion Yan.
 
The clash is part of a huge night of action which will see two title fight head the card. The vacant lightweight title will be contest between Charles Oliveria and Islam Makhachev, while bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling will put his title on the line against TJ Dillashaw.
 
UFC® 280: OLIVEIRA vs MAKHACHEV will be the latest event held in the UAE capital as part of the partnership between the UFC, and the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) which began in 2019.   
  
October will also see the return of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week running from October 17 -23, anchored by UFC® 280 and consisting of other sports and entertainment ancillary events, powered by Flash Entertainment. 
ENDS