Tonight, Islam Makhachev defends his lightweight title against Renato Moicano in the main event of UFC 311 – on one day’s notice.
Makhachev was expecting to fight Arman Tsarukyan here, six years after outpointing him in a competitive bout, but the Armenian-Russian suffered a back injury on the eve of UFC 311. That injury ruled out Tsarukyan, leading Renato Moicano to be pulled from his planned fight versus Beneil Dariush and placed in the main event.
Brazil’s Moicano is on a four-fight win streak but faces a stern test against Makhachev; the Russian champion has won 14 fights in a row, including three successful title defences. Last time out, Makhachev – who is coached by childhood friend and UFC lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov – submitted Dustin Poirier, a former interim champion. Meanwhile, Moicano scored a TKO over Benoit Saint-Denis, beating the Frenchman in Paris.
Elsewhere at UFC 311, the co-main event pits Merab Dvalishvili against Umar Nurmagomedov, a cousin of Khabib – who will be in Umar and Makhachev’s corners tonight.
The unbeaten Umar challenges Dvalishvili for his bantamweight title in that bout, while the card also features Kevin Holland vs Reinier de Ridder, Jiri Prochazka vs Jamahal Hill – a clash of former light-heavyweight champions – and more. Follow live updates and results from UFC 311, below.
UFC 311 LIVE: A lot to look forward to
Hello there! You join me in the build up towards an absolutely stacked UFC 311 main card this evening.
Two titles on the line as well as a number of potentially division-shaping matchups to sink our teeth into. We’ve got a treat of a fightcard in store.
Things are only just hotting up here and after four decisions so far, we move into our next prelim of the evening: a middleweight bout between Zachary Reese and short-notice UFC newcomer Azamat Bekoev.
Will Castle19 January 2025 02:10
UFC 311 LIVE: It’s time!!!
Here’s a rundown of the prelim results so far tonight:
Grant Dawson def. Diego Ferreira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ailin Perez def. Karol Rosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Muin Gafurov def. Rinya Nakamura via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Bernardo Sopai def. Ricky Turcios via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Tagir Ulanbekov def. Clayton Carpenter via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27,, 29-28)
Now, over to Will Castle, who will provide you with blow-by-blow updates as the prelims continue.
Then, at 3am GMT, it’s the main card… Stick around!
Alex Pattle19 January 2025 02:02
UFC 311 LIVE: Makhachev and Dvalishvili feature on Indy Sport p4p list
Why is Islam Makhachev our pound-for-pound No 1 fighter? And where does Merab Dvalishvili feature on our list?
Alex Pattle19 January 2025 01:45
UFC 311 LIVE: Last time out for tonight’s protagonists…
As for tonight’s co-main event participants:
Merab Dvalishvili was dominant against Sean O’Malley in taking the bantamweight title in September. Dvalishvili won comfortably on the scorecards, having out-grappled “Suga Sean” throughout the fight at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
One month earlier, Umar Nurmagomedov impressed greatly as he won a decision against Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi. Nurmagomedov’s well-rounded game was on display, as he showed he’s not the single-track fighter that his cousin Khabib was.
Alex Pattle19 January 2025 01:39
UFC 311 LIVE: Last time out for tonight’s protagonists…
In his last fight, in June, Islam Makhachev won a gruelling affair with Dustin Poirier – eventually submitting the former interim champion in round five. In truth, Makhachev was one step ahead throughout the bout, but Poirier rallied impressively before succumbing to a D’Arce choke.
Three months later, at UFC Paris, Renato Moicano dominated hometown hero Benoit Saint-Denis, ultimately stopping the Frenchman in round two. The Brazilian’s TKO victory took him to four straight wins, with finishes in three of them.
Alex Pattle19 January 2025 01:32
UFC 311 LIVE: Conor McGregor faces fresh allegations
A woman who accused Conor McGregor of sexual assault, but was unsuccessful in getting criminal charges filed, is now suing the former UFC champion and employees of the basketball arena where she says the attack took place.
The woman alleges that McGregor assaulted her in a bathroom of the Kaseya Center, home arena of the Miami Heat, on 9 June 2023 – when the Heat played the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of the NBA finals.
Her attorney James Dunn filed the lawsuit Tuesday in the US District Court, Southern District of Florida.
Alex Pattle19 January 2025 01:24
