Champions Reign Supreme at UFC 311
UFC’s first PPV of 2025 took place Saturday in Inglewood,California for UFC 311. The fight card featured two title fights in the Bantamweight and Lightweight divisions. In the Co-Main Event Merab Dvalishvili was able to take Umar Nurmagomedov zero and successfully retain his Bantamweight title. In the Main Event Islam Makhachev was able to make quick work of Renato Moicano and retain his Lightweight title. I will also break down the entire Main Card from start to finish.
The first fight took place in the Middleweight division between fan favorite Kevin Holland and newcomer Reinier de Ridder. Reinier right away was able to blitz Holland and secure a takedown. Reinier was able to smoothly transition and take Holland’s back and submit him with a rear naked choke in Round one. The UFC announced that the coaches for the UFC Ultimate Fighter season 33 will be between Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen. The second fight of the night was a Heavyweight fight between Jailton Almeida and Sergey Spivak. Spivak was able to secure a takedown early into the round and land some vicious ground and pound. Almedia was able to scramble a few times which resulted in the two getting back to their feet where Almedia was able to land a massive overhand right. He used that significant strike to take Spivak down and finish him with non stop ground and pound to win the fight by KO in round one. The fans' Main Event took place next between two of the most exciting strikers in the Light Heavyweight division Jiri Procházka and Jamahal Hill. A very entertaining first round as both exchanged good shots in the pocket until Jiri was able to counter an uppercut from Hill with a straight left that sat him down and was able to take over and win the first round. Hill looked to get a second win ealy in round two with good jabs to the head and to the body. Both fighters landed big shots but Hill was able to work the body and slow Jiri down and ultimately tie the fight up one round a piece. Jiri pushed the pace and really put it on Hill and landed a beautiful left jab and straight right that dropped him not once but twice in round three that allowed him to take the judges out of the fight and win the fight by KO.
The Co-Main Event was for the Bantamweight title between the defending champ Merab Dvalishvili and title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov. A back and forth striking duel with both fighters landing big shots to end round one it could go either way. Another even round with both fighters landing one shot and successfully defending each other's takedown attempts. I think it's one-one going into round three. Merab’s pressure was on full display as he was able to land his first takedowns of the fight and land good combinations when the exchanges got hectic taking round three. Merab is drowning Umar with his pace, pressure and takedown aggressiveness. Umar looked broken after the round and completely exhausted while Merab looked like he was just getting started. Merab was able to keep the pressure and rock Umar late in round three which allowed him to secure takedown after takedown and ultimately it looks like he has successfully retained his Bantamweight title. Merab retains his belt by unanimous decision.
The Main Event of the night featured a last minute change in opponents between defending Lightweight champion and the PFP number one fighter in the UFC in Islam Makhachev and the number 10 ranked Renato Moicano. Moicano came out guns blazing and landed some good shots until Islam was able to take him down and secure his favorite choke, the d’arce choke. Which resulted in Islam retaining his championship by first round submission. Moving forward I think Islam’s next challenger should be a rematch with Charles Oliveira. I feel like that would be a much more competitive fight as opposed to their first encounter and could honestly go either way.
