The UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2025 is set to deliver a night to remember. UFC 311 takes place on Saturday, January 18, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, featuring a stacked lineup of title fights, grudge matches, and rising contenders. Headlining the card is the highly anticipated lightweight title rematch between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan, while the co-main event showcases Merab Dvalishvili defending his bantamweight belt against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.
Also on the card, former light heavyweight champions Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill face off in a crucial bout, and surging lightweight Renato Moicano meets seasoned veteran Beneil Dariush. Add to that the middleweight clash between fan-favorite Kevin Holland and the highly touted newcomer Reinier de Ridder, and UFC 311 promises an unforgettable night of action.
Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2 - A Fight Five Years in the Making
The main event sees lightweight champion Islam Makhachev take on Arman Tsarukyan, renewing a rivalry that began in 2019. The champion goes into the fight as the UFC betting favorite!
In their first meeting, Tsarukyan pushed Makhachev to his limits in a bout that earned Fight of the Night honors. Since then, both fighters have evolved into elite competitors, making this rematch even more compelling.
Makhachev, widely regarded as one of the pound-for-pound best, is on a 14-fight win streak. His dominance in grappling, coupled with increasingly dangerous striking, has made him nearly untouchable. Notable victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier have only solidified his place at the top.
Tsarukyan, now ranked No. 1 in the division, has gone 9-1 since his UFC debut. His resume includes victories over former champion Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush, showing marked improvement in every aspect of his game.
As former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker noted, however, the matchup might not be as even as it appears. On the MMA Arcade podcast, Whittaker said, “I understand how good Arman Tsarukyan is, but I feel like there’s a skill gap. But I just feel like if we look at Islam's last fight with Dustin and we look at Arman's last fight with Charles, I just feel like there's a skill gap… Islam’s in a really good place right now. I find it very hard to see him getting defeated.” Whittaker’s feelings are echoed across the industry, with many UFC picks & predictions going for Makhachev to retain.
This fight will likely hinge on grappling exchanges, where both fighters excel. Can Makhachev extend his dominance, or will Tsarukyan prove he’s closed the gap over the years?
Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov - High-Stakes Rivalry
The co-main event is as intriguing as the headliner, with bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili defending against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.
Dvalishvili’s relentless pace and suffocating wrestling have earned him the nickname "The Machine." His 11-fight win streak includes victories over Sean O'Malley, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo, showcasing his ability to neutralize opponents across styles.
However, Nurmagomedov presents a unique challenge. With a perfect 18-0 record, he’s displayed exceptional striking and grappling, blending the two seamlessly in his dominant win over Cory Sandhagen. Despite criticism for a relatively fast track to the title, his skillset leaves little doubt about his readiness.
Tensions have been high between the two fighters, with Dvalishvili calling out Nurmagomedov for taking "shortcuts" in his climb to the top. In an exclusive interview with Stake.com, Dvalishvili didn’t hold back:
“I say he's a good fighter, but he takes shortcuts, you know. He cheated a little bit because he was fighting nobodies and guys on their debut. And then from debut guy, he fought number two, you know, that's, that's a gift and that's a shortcut. And that's not how you want to earn your title fight.
“That's not right. In my opinion, he was supposed to fight one more. Maybe against Song Yadong. But once the UFC asked me, I said, okay, I will fight him.”
Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, has dismissed these claims, focusing instead on becoming the next member of his family to hold UFC gold.
Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill - Redemption at Light Heavyweight
Two former champions meet in a pivotal clash as Jiří Procházka takes on Jamahal Hill. Both fighters are coming off losses to reigning champion Alex Pereira, and a win here could propel either back into title contention.
Procházka, known for his unorthodox striking and relentless pressure, will look to rebound from consecutive losses to Pereira. His dynamic style makes him a constant threat, though it also leaves him vulnerable to counters.
Hill, on the other hand, is a more methodical striker with a knack for finding openings. His journey back to the Octagon has been marked by adversity, including injuries, but he remains a formidable opponent. With both fighters eager to erase their last performances, expect fireworks in this matchup.
Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano - A Crossroads for Both Fighters
Veteran lightweight Beneil Dariush returns to the cage against surging contender Renato Moicano. Once on the cusp of a title shot, Dariush has faced tough setbacks, with back-to-back losses to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan.
Meanwhile, Moicano has been on a tear, winning his last four fights and establishing himself as a legitimate contender. His striking and submission skills have made him a dangerous opponent for anyone in the division. This fight could determine whether Dariush can reestablish himself among the elite or if Moicano will take the next step toward a title shot.
Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder - A Clash of Styles
Opening the main card is an intriguing middleweight bout between the always-entertaining Kevin Holland and the highly skilled newcomer Reinier de Ridder. Holland, known for his quick wit and unorthodox fighting style, faces a stiff challenge in de Ridder, a former ONE Championship double champion with elite grappling credentials.
Holland’s ability to keep the fight standing could be the deciding factor, while de Ridder will look to take the fight to the ground and capitalize on his grappling edge.
Exclusive Insights - Merab Dvalishvili on His Title Defense
As he prepares for the first defense of his bantamweight title, Merab Dvalishvili has been vocal about his determination to prove himself as a worthy champion while addressing the controversy surrounding his matchup with Umar Nurmagomedov.
Stake managed to score an exclusive interview with Merab Dvalishvili, whereby he delved into the challenges he’s faced during training camp, the personal nature of this fight, and his pride in representing Georgia on the global stage.
Despite dealing with a serious injury during camp, Dvalishvili has maintained a no-excuses attitude. "The injury was serious; it wasn’t a joke," he admitted. "I will post the injury or whatever after the fight, but before I don't want to show and make people panic."
When asked about Nurmagomedov’s claims of being injured, Dvalishvili was skeptical:
"Of course he is making excuses, as you guys saw he was training with Henry Cejudo like he was holding gloves to Henry and was punching, and then I saw he was sparring with tough guys and I have heard him say that he was totally fine and that he had little injury a couple of months ago…it is just him making excuses.."
The rivalry between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov has been fueled by more than just professional competition. According to Dvalishvili, the challenger has disrespected both him and his country, Georgia, in the past. "He called me a fake champion and disrespected my country," Dvalishvili explained. "I even posted proof on my Instagram. He deleted a lot, but you can still see the evidence. That’s not what a real man or a real sportsman would do."
The Georgian champion also spoke about his pride in bringing the title back to his homeland, describing the overwhelming support he received upon his return.
"First of all, it always feels good when you go home. And once I stepped from the plane, the police officers and the airport workers and all the people were so happy and taking pictures and they were waiting for me. There were so many people.”
Looking ahead, Dvalishvili expressed his willingness to face any opponent the UFC puts in front of him, including a potential rematch with O’Malley. However, for now, all his focus is on Nurmagomedov: "I don’t care who’s next. Right now, it’s about proving that I’m not just a champion - I’m the champion."
Undercard to Watch
The preliminary card offers a host of exciting matchups, including:
- Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac - A heavyweight clash with major implications in the division.
- Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos - Rising prospect Talbott aims to maintain his undefeated record against veteran Barcelos.
- Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clayton Carpenter - A flyweight bout showcasing the division’s future stars.
UFC 311 is Not to be Missed
With two title fights, former champions seeking redemption, and emerging talent on display, UFC 311 promises to set a high bar for the rest of 2025. Whether it’s Makhachev’s quest for lightweight supremacy or Dvalishvili’s battle to defend his throne, every fight on this card carries significance.
Be sure to tune in on Saturday, January 18, to witness what could be one of the most memorable events in UFC history.
