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  • Umar Nurmagomedov Doubles Down On Belief He Beat Merab Dvalishvili At UFC 311

    Umar Nurmagomedov Doubles Down On Belief He Beat Merab Dvalishvili At UFC 311

    In the co-main event of UFC 311, Umar Nurmagomedov suffered the very first defeat of his career. For the first time in 19 fights, his opponent was the better man on the night following an instant classic title bout against Merab Dvalishvili at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

    Nurmagomedov may have failed to capture the bantamweight belt at the first time of asking but he still gave a good account of himself when facing the current best in the world. He won the first two rounds on two of the scorecards and it was only until the pace and output of Dvalishvili started to really become a factor that the fight started to slip away from his control.

    There’s no doubt that he will come back better from this and whilst he has repeatedly said that he isn’t making excuses for the defeat, the 29-year old did reveal in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan that he thought he won the fight despite seemingly breaking his hand in the first round which limited him over the five rounds.

    Nurmagomedov has since doubled down on both of these points via his own social media platforms by putting out a short statement to reflect on the fight. Whilst he is now focused on recovering from his injuries and getting back to it, he believes that we should have heard “And New” leave Bruce Buffer’s mouth on Saturday night.

    “No excuses. InshaAllah I will become a champion. Nothing else matters. Praise be to Allah in any situation. And I don’t think I lost this fight. Even if the whole world convinces me otherwise. I’ll deal with my injuries and get back into action. InshaAllah.”

  • Islam Makhachev Gets Sent A Reminder: ‘The Lightweight Champion Is Called Charles Oliveira!’

    Islam Makhachev Gets Sent A Reminder: ‘The Lightweight Champion Is Called Charles Oliveira!’

    Islam Makhachev broke the record for consecutive title defenses in the lightweight division this past weekend at UFC 311. The pound-for-pound best fighter in the sport continued living up to his approach of not caring who is put in front of him by accepting to fight Renato Moicano on just one days notice before submitting him in the first round.

    Makhachev’s dominant streak has many believing that the biggest test for him will be when he moves up a weight class, rather than anyone that currently competes at 155-pounds. There has already been talk of what could possibly be next for the champion and the options at lightweight are fairly limited right now.

    Alongside rebooking the rematch with Arman Tsarukyan or potentially facing the winner of Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker, there is one name that appears to have been excluded from conversations despite him being one of the most popular fighters on the roster. Charles Oliveira may have been beaten by Makhachev once in the past but the two men were scheduled to meet in a rematch that never happened.

    After bouncing back from his loss at UFC 280, he was set to challenge the champion at UFC 294 but “Do Bronx” withdrew from the fight due to a cut that he suffered in his final training session. The former champ recently put on a dominant performance against Michael Chandler in November to return to the win column following a defeat to Tsarukyan at UFC 300.

    Oliveira was in attendance at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Saturday night where in a video posted on social media by the UFC, he called for his long awaited rematch with Makhachev.

    “It was a great fight, he’s the champion. He did what he had to do but I’m next and he knows that. The lightweight champion is called Charles Oliveira, I’m ready for that.”

  • What’s Next After UFC 311? Full Confirmed UFC 312 Main Card For Sydney On Feb. 8

    What’s Next After UFC 311? Full Confirmed UFC 312 Main Card For Sydney On Feb. 8

    UFC 311 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia.

    The promotion was in Los Angeles this past week, where the Intuit Dome played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its opening numbered event of the new year. Of note were headline wins for Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili, as well as important victories for Jiří Procházka, Jailton Almeida, and Reinier de Ridder.

    While the aftermath of the Jan. 18 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the lightweight title picture to the middleweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 312, set for the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Feb. 8, reigning kingpin Dricus Du Plessis will open his account for the new year, once again in defense of his 185-pound gold. After following his crowning against Sean Strickland with a retention opposite Israel Adesanya, the South African will next run it back with Strickland.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as two-time strawweight champ Zhang Weili looks to defend her gold for the third time since winning it back at the expense of Carla Esparza in 2022. In her way of a continued reign will be the undefeated Tatiana Suarez.

    Tafa, Crute, Matthews Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 312

    Before Du Plessis and Weili defend their belts, a number of local names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 312 card.

    That includes heavyweight powerhouse Justin Tafa. Against undefeated newcomer Tallison Teixeira, the Australian-Samoan will look to bounce back from a decision loss to Karl Williams last March and return to the knockout ways that saw him sleep Austen Lane, Parker Porter, and Harry Hunsucker during a four-fight unbeaten streak between 2021 and 2023.

    Prior to that, another home favorite will be in action as light heavyweight Jimmy Crute returns almost two years on from a submission loss to Alonzo Menifield. “The Brute” hasn’t tasted victory since a 2020 KO of Modestas Bukauskas that left him 12-1 and among the most promising prospects at 205 pounds. To revive his career amid a four-fight winless run, the 28-year-old must stall the charge of former LFA champion Rodolfo Bellato.

    And opening the UFC 312 main card will be Jake Matthews, a longtime Australian prospect who has failed to live up to his promise thus far. “The Celtic Kid” has exchanged wins and losses across six fights since his most recent winning streak in 2020, and against Francisco Prado next month, he’ll be looking to build some momentum following a decision victory over Phil Rowe last time out.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over another Aussie in Jack Jenkins, who is slated to top the prelims against Gabriel Santos.

    See below for the full UFC 312 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Sean Strickland (middleweight championship)
    • Zhang Weili (C) vs. Tatiana Suarez (strawweight championship)
    • Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira (heavyweight)
    • Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato (light heavyweight)
    • Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado (welterweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos (featherweight)
    • Cody Haddon vs. Aleksandre Topuria (bantamweight)
    • Tom Nolan vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (lightweight)
    • HyunSung Park vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (flyweight)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli (lightweight)
    • Kevin Jousset vs. Jonathan Micallef (welterweight)
    • Wang Cong vs. Bruna Brasil (flyweight)
    • Rongzhu vs. Kody Steele (lightweight)
    Justin Tafa
    Image: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting
  • Renato Moicano Reveals Plan For Octagon Interview With Joe Rogan Had He Won At UFC 311

    Renato Moicano Reveals Plan For Octagon Interview With Joe Rogan Had He Won At UFC 311

    Renato Moicano faced a huge uphill battle in the main event of UFC 311. Facing the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport today with a full camp would’ve been the toughest test of his career to date, let alone doing it with just one day to prepare.

    “Money” was unable to pull off one of the biggest upsets of all time after replacing Arman Tsarukyan to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title this past Saturday night. The Brazilian has become a fan favorite in recent times, partly down to his winning streak and partly because of his entertaining and unpredictable personality.

    Moicano’s post-fight interviews have become must-watch as he always has a lot to say and you never know where it’s going to go. Following his submission loss at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, a dejected contender spoke about what this setback means to him during his time on the mic.

    “That wasn’t one day notice, that was a life’s notice. I’m very sad, I spent my whole life for this moment and I tap in the first round. Islam was much better than I today and I had so much to say but that’s not the right time. I’m not done and I don’t know if I will ever get a chance like that again but I will try my best to do.”

    As Moicano told Joe Rogan inside the Octagon, a post-fight speech in victory would’ve been vastly different and he’d already given some thought into how he would use his time on the mic. He posted on X after the fight to state his plans for what his first interview as a UFC champion would’ve looked like.

    Rather than basking in the moment of an incredibly emotional win, in true Moicano fashion, he had a book recommendation and a point to get across.

    “I wish I had won yesterday, grabbed the microphone, and told you to read Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money! Why money should be a commodity with a floating price dictated by the free market! Why central banks are institutions that, instead of helping the economy, enslave new generations through debt! The control of interest rates and quantitative easing are driving global economies toward collapse!

    “This book explains how government took over gold and turned it into this cursed fiat currency! And how governments have been doing this long before they were democratic—scraping gold coins, counterfeiting! The first step was to seize real money and then control interest rates! We all know how the story ends: the U.S. government with an almost unpayable debt! History is written by the winners! Yesterday I lost and stayed silent. But I will return to say what needs to be said! Last year, I fought for money; from now on, I fight for freedom! Study Bitcoin!”

  • Paddy Pimblett Responds To Backlash For Holding Rival In Choke During Gym Spar: ‘He Agreed To No Tapping!’

    Paddy Pimblett Responds To Backlash For Holding Rival In Choke During Gym Spar: ‘He Agreed To No Tapping!’

    Paddy Pimblett is no stranger to engaging in online beefs with his fellow fighters but his latest social media feud ended up being settled on the mats. “The Baddy” had been going back and forth with Irish/Ghanaian athlete Denis Frimpong before both men agreed to put on some gloves and shin guards to handle their differences.

    Frimpong is a 30-year old fighter who previously competed in European promotion OKTAGON before parting ways with the promotion last year but he has recently re-signed with them. He trains out of Manchester Top Team alongside the likes of Lerone Murphy and Lewis McGrillen with the gym recently opening the doors to Liverpool’s Pimblett this past Saturday.

    With fighters from the gym sat around the edges of the mat, Pimblett and Frimpong engaged in some striking which mostly consisted of leg kicks, which Pimblett appeared to get the better of. After Frimpong threw a big right hook, “The Baddy” dipped underneath and secured a body lock takedown to put the fight in his element.

    From here, the 30-year old took his opponent’s back and secured a rear-naked choke which quickly led to Frimpong tapping. Despite multiple taps, Pimblett did not let go of the choke which led to several spectators pulling him off of “The Menace” as tensions flared between the Manchester hosts and their visitors.

    Pimblett has since responded to some of the criticism he has faced after videos of the fight were posted on social media. He posted a statement to say that people were judging him for not letting go the submission despite not knowing about an agreement between the two fighters that had taken place before they started exchanging blows.

    “He agreed to no tapping beforehand. All you butthurt idiots who don’t know what your talking about just pipe down don’t talk when you don’t know the context. Not me fault he tapped like a… when he was saying was going to KO me on the feet and got outstruck.”

  • Islam Makhachev’s Manager Teases ‘Unpredictable’ Plans After UFC 311 That Don’t Include Tsarukyan, Oliveira Or Topuria

    Islam Makhachev’s Manager Teases ‘Unpredictable’ Plans After UFC 311 That Don’t Include Tsarukyan, Oliveira Or Topuria

    Islam Makhachev’s manager hints that the UFC is cooking something truly spectacular for the lightweight champion’s next fight.

    Makhachev swiftly dispatched his short-notice replacement opponent, Renato Moicano, claiming a lopsided first-round submission victory in the UFC 311 main event this past weekend at the Intuit Dome in California.

    The Dagestani champion was originally set to face Arman Tsarukyan in a highly anticipated rematch. However, the plan took an unexpected turn last Friday when UFC CEO Dana White announced that “Ahalkalakets” had been forced to pull out due to a back injury.

    Makhachev’s victory at UFC 311 etched his name into the record books with a remarkable fourth consecutive title defense, reaffirming his status as the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighter. The dominant performance reignited discussions about a potential move to a higher weight class to fulfill his long-held dream of becoming a two-division UFC champion.

    While the reigning lightweight king stated in the UFC 311 post-fight press conference that he isn’t rushing the decision, he emphasized his determination to capture gold in a second weight class. He also outlined plans to make his return during the UFC’s annual International Fight Week, typically held in late June or early July.

    Tsarukyan is still the leading challenger for Makhachev’s 155-pound crown, but White has emphasized that withdrawing from UFC 311 means he’ll need to earn his way back into the title conversation.

    As for Makhachev’s next challenge, a rematch with Charles Oliveira, whom he defeated at UFC 280 to claim the belt, seems like a strong possibility. Meanwhile, reigning featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has also hinted at moving up in weight for a potential champion vs. champion super fight.

    However, according to Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, none of these three names are even on the table for his client’s next opponent.

    In a recent social media post, Abdelaziz hinted that the UFC is planning something entirely surprising for the 33-year-old Russian.

    “The UFC has a completely different plan for Islam which doesn’t include Oliveira, Arman or Ilia. But it’s an unpredictable sport and you don’t know what could happen.” Abdelaziz wrote on X.

    The Dominance MMA owner further spotlighted two fresh contenders who could be next in line to challenge Makhachev.

    “If Justin Gaethje beats [Dan] Hooker he can be easily next. If Beneil Dariush beats Poirier he can also be next. These would be two new names that Islam hasn’t fought yet.”

    Makhachev is riding an unprecedented 15-fight win streak, a remarkable run that includes triumphs over a roster of high-profile opponents such as Tsarukyan, Dustin Poirier, and Alexander Volkanovski, among others.

  • Khabib Posts Supportive Message To Umar Nurmagomedov After UFC 311 Defeat

    Khabib Posts Supportive Message To Umar Nurmagomedov After UFC 311 Defeat

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has encouraged cousin Umar Nurmagomedov to keep his head held high following a first career setback in Los Angeles this past Saturday night.

    The 29-year-old made the walk inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome for his opening title opportunity on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, looking to become the latest undefeated Nurmagomedov to hold gold in a leading promotion.

    Unfortunately for the Dagestani, he failed in that quest at UFC 311. Instead, Merab Dvalishvili successfully maintained his position on the bantamweight throne, emerging victorious from a memorable five-round battle to record his first defense.

    Having suffered his first defeat as a professional and exited California without the belt in his possession, Nurmagomedov will understandably be disappointed.

    His coach, mentor, and cousin, however, is confident of making the necessary fixes to ensure a successful title challenge down the line.

    “Head up Junior, yesterday you showed that you are one of the best in the world,” Khabib wrote in an Instagram post. “At the moment we have something to work on, we will work on the mistakes and return to the title race”

    “The Eagle” had a busy night in LA, cornering two other fighters at UFC 311.

    Tagir Ulanbekov opened the night in strong fashion for the team, taking Clayton Carpenter’s 0 by way of a convincing decision. And another member of the Dagestani contingent closed out proceedings, with Islam Makhachev retaining his lightweight title via submission at the expense of Renato Moicano.

    Alongside his supportive words toward Umar, Khabib also praised the work of both Makhachev and Ulanbekov.

  • Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Islam Makhachev’s Submission Of Renato Moicano: ‘You Tap That Quick? Go Asleep!’

    Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Islam Makhachev’s Submission Of Renato Moicano: ‘You Tap That Quick? Go Asleep!’

    UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett wasn’t impressed with the quick nature of Renato Moicano’s decision to tap to an Islam Makhachev choke on Saturday night.

    Moicano found himself competing with gold on the line for the first time this weekend, replacing the injured Arman Tsarukyan to challenge Makhachev on just 24 hours’ notice.

    Unfortunately for the Brazilian, it wasn’t to be a fairytale moment in Los Angeles. He was submitted inside the first round of the UFC 311 main event, marking the champ’s fourth consecutive title defense.

    Among those tuning in for Makhachev’s latest defense was another 155lber frequently linked to a showdown with Moicano, the #13-ranked Pimblett.

    “The Baddy” posted his reaction to the fight-ending sequence from the first PPV headliner of 2025. While he gave props to Moicano for stepping up on late notice, he berated the challenger for not ‘going out on his shield’.

    “You f*cking tap that quick, Renato? Go asleep, lad. Go out on your shield,” Pimblett said following Makhachev’s submission. “I f*cking hate that. You’re in a f*cking choke. You’re not going to snap your neck. Go asleep.

    “Second straight win by D’Arce choke. That was too easy. “It was like, ‘Yeah, give him the sub, lad.’ I thought that would put more of a fight than that,” Pimblett continued. “Credit to Renato for stepping up on 24 hours’ notice, but come on brother, you’re never going to get that opportunity again, at least go out on your shield and go to sleep.”

    Before being initially booked to compete against Beneil Dariush at UFC 311, Moicano had been linked to a clash with the rising Pimblett in 2025.

    With the Liverpool native yet to have his next assignment added to the calendar, perhaps talk will turn back toward that matchup following the setback to Moicano’s title hopes in California.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Has Surprising Reaction To Dana White Taking Away Title Shot After UFC 311 Withdrawal

    Arman Tsarukyan Has Surprising Reaction To Dana White Taking Away Title Shot After UFC 311 Withdrawal

    It would seem that Arman Tsarukyan is no longer the number one contender at 155 pounds.

    Tsarukyan was gearing up last week for his first shot at championship glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. Instead of that, however, he watched on as Islam Makhachev shared the cage with Renato Moicano at UFC 311.

    That came about after the Armenian withdrew on weigh-in day after sustaining a back injury. Moicano was subsequently pulled from his main card clash with Beneil Dariush and handed a sudden title opportunity, which he was unable to capitalize on.

    After quickly submitting the Brazilian by way of a D’Arce choke, Makhachev’s reign has reached a record-breaking four successful defenses. And when it comes to his attempt at a fifth, there’s some uncertainty over opposition.

    During his press conference inside the Intuit Dome, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Tsarukyan would not be keeping his title shot following his injury dropout.

    Interestingly, that decision has been supported by the man himself.

    “I agree with @danawhite. Once my back heals, I’ll be ready to prove I’m the true #1 contender by taking on anyone they put in front of me!” Tsarukyan wrote on X.

    Tsarukyan also identified a potential opponent, green-lighting a rematch with Charles Oliveira in a subsequent post.

    After recording a second win over Michael Chandler last November, “Do Bronx” was expecting to face the winner of the original UFC 311 main event later this year.

    But with the division appearing to be without a definitive next in line — assuming White’s remarks on Tsarukyan’s status prove true — perhaps the Brazilian will have the chance to avenge his UFC 300 setback to the Armenian.

  • Manager: ‘No Excuse’ But Umar Nurmagomedov Suffered Broken Hand In UFC 311 Title Fight

    Manager: ‘No Excuse’ But Umar Nurmagomedov Suffered Broken Hand In UFC 311 Title Fight

    Umar Nurmagomedov’s bid to become a UFC champion fell short this weekend, and he also sustained an injury that will likely keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future.

    In the co-main event of UFC 311, Nurmagomedov faced Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title. The fight was highly competitive, with both fighters having their moments. “The Machine” ultimately earned the decision victory, retaining his belt.

    Following the fight, Nurmagomedov initially questioned the decision but admitted that he needed to rewatch the contest before giving a full assessment. The Dagestani also revealed that he may have broken his hand early in the bout.

    Injuries are a common talking point among fighters, often surfacing before, during, and after bouts. Nurmagomedov’s situation was no exception.

    A post from his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, highlighted the extent of the damage, showing a photo of the injury.

    “@UNmgdv broke his hands first round no excuse no excuse Alhamdulillah for everything.”

    This loss for the challenger put an end to his undefeated run as a pro, which had reached 18 straight wins. He earned the title shot after beating Cory Sandhagen via decision last August in a bantamweight title eliminator.

  • ‘Free Money On Poatan’ – Fans React To Magomed Ankalaev Opening As Betting Favorite To Beat Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    ‘Free Money On Poatan’ – Fans React To Magomed Ankalaev Opening As Betting Favorite To Beat Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    The release of opening odds for the recently announced UFC 313 headliner between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev have raised some eyebrows.

    Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion, had his first assignment of 2025 announced during the broadcast of UFC 311 on Saturday night. “Poatan” was present as his long-awaited battle with Ankalaev was made official.

    Following months of back and forth on social media and questions surrounding his next step, the Brazilian has been lined up to face the consensus top contender in the main event of UFC 313 in Las Vegas on March 8.

    As always, the fight news was quickly followed by the release of opening odds. And interestingly, despite his impressive streak of successful title defenses in 2024, Pereira is the underdog.

    On BetOnline.ag, the champ opened at +170, with the challenger’s line reading -200.

    That split opinion online, with many expressing their confidence in Pereira maintaining his place on the light heavyweight throne come fight night at T-Mobile Arena.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Lineup Grows For UFC London On March 22

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Lineup Grows For UFC London On March 22

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, January 13, and Sunday, January 19, a few notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, see the links below:

    Plenty of lower-profile bouts also came together. For those, check out the list below:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with one fight falling through:

  • Dana White Finally Concedes Defeat In Controversial Debate: ‘Are You Happy? Is Everybody Happy Now?’

    Dana White Finally Concedes Defeat In Controversial Debate: ‘Are You Happy? Is Everybody Happy Now?’

    For years, Dana White has hailed Jon Jones as the UFC’s pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter. However, following UFC 311 on Saturday night, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has finally claimed top spot in the UFC CEO’s eyes.

    The recognition came after Makhachev submitted late replacement opponent Renato Moicano in the first round of the main event at Intuit Dome — an accomplishment White acknowledged to reporters.

    “Yeah, I’ll give it to him,” White said during the UFC 311 post-event press conference. “Are you happy? Is everybody happy now? One hundred percent, there’s no doubt about it. He’s the pound-for-pound best in the world, and he’s definitely the best to ever do it in that division.”

    Makhachev’s victory marked his fourth consecutive title defense, surpassing legends Khabib Nurmagomedov, Benson Henderson, and BJ Penn for the most in lightweight division history. Additionally, it was Makhachev’s 15th straight win in the UFC, placing him second only to Anderson Silva’s record of 16 consecutive victories.

    Makhachev was initially scheduled to face Arman Tsarukyan in a highly anticipated rematch. However, Tsarukyan withdrew during Friday’s weigh-ins due to a back injury.

    Despite the sudden change, White commended Makhachev for his readiness to compete against anyone.

    “Islam was willing to fight anybody,” White said. “He’s stayed active, and he went out tonight and performed the way a guy should on a short-notice fight when you’re the best in the world, and you’re the champion.”

  • UFC 311 Payouts Revealed: Islam Makhachev Gets Less Than Moicano, Holland, & 5 Others

    UFC 311 Payouts Revealed: Islam Makhachev Gets Less Than Moicano, Holland, & 5 Others

    The base payouts for Saturday’s UFC 311 pay-per-view have been disclosed, and it’s safe to say that some of the figures have raised eyebrows in the mixed martial arts community.

    MMA’s leading promotion opened its PPV schedule for the new year this weekend in Los Angeles, where Inglewood’s Intuit Dome played host to a number of intriguing contests, including two championship battles and the latest outings for a number of promising prospects.

    Closing the show was lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev, who submitted Renato Moicano on just 24 hours’ notice following the sudden withdrawal of original challenger Arman Tsarukyan. Despite his main event spot, though, the Dagestani wasn’t the highest paid champ on the card when it comes to base pay.

    The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) revealed the payouts to MMA Fighting following the conclusion of UFC 311, with bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili’s $500K marking the highest figure. Makhachev’s number, meanwhile, emerged as $200K.

    Interestingly, that also puts the lightweight titleholder behind six others in addition to “The Machine,” including defeated opponent Moicano ($200K), Jiří Procházka ($250K), Kevin Holland ($250K), Reinier de Ridder ($210K), Jailton Almeida ($220K) and Grant Dawson ($212K).

    It’s worth noting that these figures are only the contracted amounts and don’t factor in the kind of PPV bonus Makhachev is likely to be the recipient of behind the scenes.

    See below for the full list of disclosed pay sums for UFC 311.

    UFC 311 Disclosed Payouts

    Islam Makhachev: $200,000 (no win bonus)

    Renato Moicano: $250,000 (no win bonus)

    Merab Dvalishvili: $500,000 (no win bonus)

    Umar Nurmagomedov: $100,000 (no win bonus)

    Jiří Procházka: $250,000 ($200,000 purse, $50,000 win bonus)

    Jamahal Hill: $200,000

    Kevin Holland: $250,000

    Reinier de Ridder: $210,000 ($105,000 purse, $105,000 win bonus)

    Jailton Almeida: $220,000 ($110,000 purse, $110,000 win bonus)

    Serghei Spivac: $100,000

    Payton Talbott: $43,000

    Raoni Barcelos: $96,000 ($48,000 purse, $48,000 win bonus)

    Bogdan Guskov: $86,000 ($43,000 purse, $43,000 win bonus)

    Billy Elekana: $12,000

    Grant Dawson: $212,000 ($106,000 purse, $106,000 win bonus)

    Diego Ferreira: $100,000

    Zachary Reese: $30,000

    Azamat Bekoev: $24,000 ($12,000 purse, $12,000 win bonus)

    Karol Rosa: $75,000

    Ailín Pérez: $72,000 ($36,000 purse, $36,000 win bonus)

    Rinya Nakamura: $26,000

    Muin Gafurov: $28,000 ($14,000 purse, $14,000 win bonus)

    Ricky Turcios: $28,000

    Bernardo Sopai: $24,000 ($12,000 purse, $12,000 win bonus)

    Tagir Ulanbekov: $72,000 ($36,000 purse, $36,000 win bonus)

    Clayton Carpenter: $28,000

  • Islam Makhachev Welcomes Dricus Du Plessis Title Fight After UFC 311, Says Alex Pereira Is ‘Too Much’

    Islam Makhachev Welcomes Dricus Du Plessis Title Fight After UFC 311, Says Alex Pereira Is ‘Too Much’

    Islam Makhachev is eyeing another championship belt after successfully defending his lightweight title with a first-round submission win over Renato Moicano in the UFC 311 main event.

    This victory marked Makhachev’s fourth consecutive title defense, solidifying his status as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters and fueling speculation about a move to another weight class to pursue dual-champion status.

    While not rushing the decision, Makhachev is clear about his long-term goal of holding another title.

    “I don’t know when it’s going to happen, but I told them I’m not [going to] leave this sport without [a] second belt,” Makhachev said during the UFC 311 post-fight press conference. “I need the second belt to be, and after I’ll talk like, ‘I’m the greatest’ or something. But right now, my goal is to be double champion. I don’t know if it’s going to be next fight or when, [but] I’m still fighting, still winning. I defend my belt how many times the UFC wants; I will defend. When they give me [a] chance, I want to be double champion.”

    Makhachev, an occasional teammate and training partner of current welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, has ruled out fighting his friend. However, he has expressed openness to facing middleweight titleholder Dricus Du Plessis. The South African is scheduled for a rematch with Sean Strickland at UFC 312, with the winner expected to face Khamzat Chimaev next.

    “I can be three-division also,” Makhachev said, referring to his ambitions beyond a second title. “Just give me the chance, that’s it. I will fight with [Dricus] Du Plessis. If they give me the chance, I will fight with him also. I swear, if Dana White sends me [the] contract, I will fight with him.”

    When asked about potentially facing light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, however, Makhachev dismissed the idea with humor.

    “No, it’s too much [laughs],” he said. “I need the [Daniel Cormier] diet program to be 200 pounds [laughs].”

  • Dana White Says Arman Tsarukyan Must Earn Another Title Shot After UFC 311 Dropout

    Arman Tsarukyan was forced to withdraw from UFC 311, costing him a chance to compete for the lightweight championship.

    A back injury prevented him from facing lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev in the originally scheduled main event. The UFC secured Renato Moicano as a last-minute replacement, with the Brazilian ultimately losing to the Dagestani via first-round submission. The victory marked Makhachev’s fourth consecutive title defense.

    At the UFC 311 post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White addressed Tsarukyan’s situation.

    “He’s not getting a title shot,” White stated. “That means he’s going to have to fight his way back to the title.”

    White further elaborated on the circumstances of Tsarukyan’s withdrawal.

    “He’s going back to the drawing board. I don’t want anybody to ever fight hurt, ever. We’ve been in these positions before. Went down there with the doctor, went down there with Heather [Linden] from the [UFC Performance Institute], who you can ask any fighter or anybody else, she’s the best in the world. You miss opportunities sometimes, and he did. So we’ll see how this plays out for him next year.”

  • ‘Jon Jones Could Never’ – Fans React As Islam Makhachev Submits Renato Moicano On 24 Hours’ Notice At UFC 311

    ‘Jon Jones Could Never’ – Fans React As Islam Makhachev Submits Renato Moicano On 24 Hours’ Notice At UFC 311

    New, last-minute challenger, no problem for Islam Makhachev.

    Makhachev became the first fighter in UFC lightweight history to defend the championship four times with a quick submission victory over Renato Moicano in the main event of UFC 311.

    Moicano appeared to get off to a decent start, landing a couple of strong shots on the champ during the first round. When the fight got to the ground, however, it wasn’t close.

    The Dagestani was able to lock in a D’Arce choke and scored a quick submission to retain the gold.

    Islam Makhachev Submits Late-Notice Challenger Renato Moicano To Keep Lightweight Title At UFC 311

    https://twitter.com/zekesnow1135/status/1880858006285656320
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    Makhachev was originally scheduled to defend the championship against No. 1 contender Arman Tsarukyan before the Armenian withdrew on the day of the weigh-ins with a back injury.

    The champ won the title by defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 before retaining the belt against then-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski twice, at UFC 284 and UFC 294, and Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.

    Moicano, meanwhile, was originally booked to face Beneil Dariush on tonight’s card. He entered UFC 311 on a four-fight win streak and with six wins in his last seven. He had most recently defeated Benoît Saint Denis at UFC Paris in September.

  • UFC 311 Results & Highlights: Islam Makhachev Submits Renato Moicano 

    UFC 311 Results & Highlights: Islam Makhachev Submits Renato Moicano 

    UFC 311 took place tonight from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Islam Makhachev put his lightweight title on the line against Renato Moicano, who stepped in on short notice due to an injury to Arman Tsarukyan. While in the co-main event, bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili faced Umar Nurmagomedov. 

    UFC 311 Results: Main Card

    • Lightweight Championship: Islam Makhachev def. Renato Moicano via submission: R1, 4.05
    • Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili def. Umar Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision (48-47×2 49-46)
    • Light Heavyweight: Jiří Procházka def. Jamahal Hill via TKO: R3, 3.01
    • Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida def. Serghei Spivac via TKO: R1, 4.53 
    • Middleweight: Reinier de Ridder def. Kevin Holland via submission: R1, 3.31

     
    Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight: Raoni Barcelos def. Payton Talbott via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 30-26)
    • Middleweight: Azamat Bekoev def. Zachary Reese via KO: R1, 3.04
    • Light Heavyweight: Bogdan Guskov def. Billy Elekana via submission: R2, 3.33
    • Lightweight: Grant Dawson def. Diego Ferreira via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

     
    Early Preliminary Card

    • Women’s Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez def. Karol Rosa via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27)
    • Bantamweight: Muin Gafarov def. Rinya Nakamura via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Bantamweight: Benardo Sopaj def. Ricky Turcios via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

    Flyweight: Tagir Ulanbekov def. Clayton Carpenter via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Bogdan Guskov def. Billy Elekana

    Bogdan Guskov submitted Billy Elekana with a guillotine choke in the second round of their light heavyweight matchup.

    Azamat Bekoev def. Zachary Reese

    Azamat Bekoev stopped Zachary Reese with ground-and-pound in round one of their middleweight bout.

    Main Card Highlights

    Reinier de Ridder def. Kevin Holland

    Reinier de Ridder sunk in a rear-naked choke to get the win against Kevin Holland in round one.

    Jailton Almeida def. Serghei Spivac

    in this heavyweight bout, Jailton Almeida earned a TKO of Serghei Spivac in the first round.

    Jiří Procházka def. Jamahal Hill

    Jiří Procházka earned a TKO of Jamahal Hill in the third round of their light heavyweight matchup.

    Merab Dvalishvili def. Umar Nurmagomedov

    In the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili retained his bantamweight strap with a decision against Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Islam Makhachev def. Renato Moicano

    In the main event, Islam Makhachev submitted Renato Moicano in the first round to retain his lightweight title.

  • VIDEO: UFC 311 Post-Fight Press Conference After Islam Makhachev, Merab Dvalishvili’s Headline Wins

    VIDEO: UFC 311 Post-Fight Press Conference After Islam Makhachev, Merab Dvalishvili’s Headline Wins

    The UFC 311 pay-per-view recently concluded, and MMA News has you covered with the post-fight press conference in Los Angeles.

    The Intuit Dome played host to Octagon action on Jan. 18, as the mixed martial arts leader opened its PPV schedule for 2025 with a strong lineup that featured two championships, top contenders, experienced veterans, and some promising prospects.

    Of note were victories for Islam Makhachev, Merab Dvalishvili, Jiří Procházka, Jailton Almeida and Reinier de Ridder.

    And before attention turns to the UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia early next month, there remains some business to attend to backstage at UFC 311.

    Shortly after the main event’s ending, Dana White will appear in front of the media to reveal the recipients of the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses before answering questions. The victorious fighters from UFC 311 will also take queries from the press in reaction to their performances.

    With that said, see below for a live stream of the UFC 311 post-fight press conference via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 1:15 AM ET.

  • ‘Dagestan, You Have Been Merab’d’ – Fans React As Merab Dvalishvili Outlasts Umar Nurmagomedov In Grueling UFC 311 Battle

    ‘Dagestan, You Have Been Merab’d’ – Fans React As Merab Dvalishvili Outlasts Umar Nurmagomedov In Grueling UFC 311 Battle

    In the co-main event at UFC 311, Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended the bantamweight title against Umar Nurmagomedov in an instant classic title fight.

    The matchup more than lived up to the hype, with the pair delivering an incredibly high-level bout that was fought at an unbelievable pace.

    Nurmagomedov started the fight well with his superior striking and remarkable takedown defense allowing him to dictate the fight and stop the champion from implementing his relentless approach. But as the fight went on, the tide started to turn.

    Dvalishvili won the final three rounds to retain the title and become the first man to defeat his Dagestani challenger.

    The gas tank of “The Machine” was once again the thing that separated him from his opponent, with a crazy amount of takedown attempts that didn’t seem to take any energy away from him. Nurmagomedov may have lost his undefeated record, but despite tiring in the second half of the fight, he proved himself to be an incredible adversary for the reigning titleholder.

    Fight fans reacted on social media to the first title fight of 2025, which set an extremely high bar for the rest of the year.

    https://twitter.com/bushnak313/status/1880852431350992943

  • ‘Waiting On Hill’s Excuse’ – Fans React As Jiří Procházka Knocks Out Jamahal Hill In Battle Of Ex-Champs At UFC 311

    ‘Waiting On Hill’s Excuse’ – Fans React As Jiří Procházka Knocks Out Jamahal Hill In Battle Of Ex-Champs At UFC 311

    With plenty of anticipation around their fight, Jiří Procházka managed to come out on top in a battle of former UFC light heavyweight champions, defeating Jamahal Hill at UFC 311.

    After feints and feeling out on both sides, Hill started to work combinations, but Procházka soon found his rhythm and landed power shots, one of which dropped his opponent. The two traded throughout the later portion of the opening frame, but it appeared that the American was tiring from loading up, reaching, and missing his punches.

    “Denisa” and “Sweet Dreams” each had their moments in the second round, landing inside and connecting with powerful single punches and combinations, momentum swinging both ways.

    But the Czech fan favorite caught Hill at the right moment during the third round, dropping him with a one-two combination, punctuated with a right hand, before finishing things with some ground-and-pound.

    Jiří Procházka KOs Jamahal Hill In Back & Forth War At UFC 311

    Both of these men came into this fight off unsuccessful title shots against Alex Pereira last year. They are also both former light heavyweight champions who didn’t lose their title in the Octagon.

    Procházka defeated Glover Teixeira at UFC 275 to win the 205-pound championship but vacated due to injury. He lost to Pereira twice (at UFC 295 and UFC 303), with a win over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 300 sandwiched in between.

    Hill, meanwhile, defeated Teixeira for the vacated title at UFC 283 but had to relinquish the gold himself due to injury. He lost to Pereira at UFC 300 last April.

  • Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Official For UFC 313 On March 8

    Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Official For UFC 313 On March 8

    At UFC 313, Alex Pereira will defend his light heavyweight title against the number one contender at 205 pounds, Magomed Ankalaev.

    This long-awaited clash will headline the promotion’s return to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 8 as the 2025 calendar continues to take shape.

    The fight was made official during the UFC 311 broadcast and is certainly one that fight fans have been eagerly anticipating.

    Many believe that Ankalaev has long deserved another shot at the title following his unbeaten streak in the division. He solidified his spot by beating Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 last October to make him undeniable.

    In order to secure UFC gold for the first time, he will need to end the incredible winning streak of “Poatan,” who successfully defended the title three times last year. Since moving up to light heavyweight, Pereira has won five fights in a row but many believe that Ankalaev will be his toughest test to date.

    Jon Anik also confirmed a five-round co-main event for March 8 between fan favorites Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker at lightweight.

  • Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Hooker Announced As UFC 313 Co-Main Event In Las Vegas

    Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Hooker Announced As UFC 313 Co-Main Event In Las Vegas

    A huge lightweight contest between Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker has been confirmed for the UFC 313 co-main event on March 8.

    MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin reported on the matchup back in December, noting it had been talked about for UFC 313 on March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    And the fight was made official during the UFC 311 broadcast, alongside the news that Alex Pereira will defend his gold opposite Magomed Ankalaev.

    Gaethje has been out of action since his knockout loss against Max Holloway in the incredible BMF title fight that took place at UFC 300 in April. “The Highlight” has produced some instant classics against many of the division’s best and though the same can be said for Hooker, they’re somehow yet to cross paths.

    “The Hangman” recently made his return to the top of the weight class by pulling off a massive victory over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305 in August. Hooker previously ruled himself out of a return for UFC 312 that takes place in February in Sydney but stated that the Gaethje fight would be his preferred option.

  • ‘Team Good Guy, Team Bad Guy’ – Daniel Cormier & Chael Sonnen Announced As Coaches For Season 33 Of The Ultimate Fighter

    ‘Team Good Guy, Team Bad Guy’ – Daniel Cormier & Chael Sonnen Announced As Coaches For Season 33 Of The Ultimate Fighter

    Quickly following the announcement that the producer of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, Craig Piligian, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, the next set of coaches for TUF were announced on the UFC 311 broadcast.

    A fourth man appeared in the commentary booth as Jon Anik revealed that Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen will go toe-to-toe on the upcoming season.

    Unlike most instalments of the show, season 33 will not build to a fight between the coaches when everything wraps up. What you are guaranteed is plenty of hi-jinx between the two men who often co-host ESPN’s Good Guy/Bad Guy show, where they comment on the biggest talking points in the sport.

    The two men briefly went back and forth on the broadcast, setting the stage for what is sure to be an entertaining series between two of the biggest personalities in the sport. Further details including the weight classes that will feature on the series are yet to be revealed.

    Both Cormier and Sonnen have been team captains in the past, with Sonnen coaching against Jon Jones back in 2013 and Cormier going up against Stipe Miocic in 2018.

    This will be the fifth consecutive year of TUF following the three-year hiatus between 2018 and 2021.

  • ‘Dricus Du Plessis 2.0’ – Fans React As Reinier de Ridder Taps Kevin Holland In One Round At UFC 311

    ‘Dricus Du Plessis 2.0’ – Fans React As Reinier de Ridder Taps Kevin Holland In One Round At UFC 311

    After a shaky outing in his UFC debut, Reinier de Ridder scored an impressive victory in his first performance on pay-per-view, opening up the UFC 311 main card with a submission of Kevin Holland.

    De Ridder scored a takedown in the opening seconds of round one. Despite a triangle attempt from Holland, the Dutchman was able to control the action and had success in top position. As “Trailblazer” tried to stand up, “RDR” got to Holland’s back, bringing him back to the ground and locking in a body triangle and choke for the first-round submission.

    Reinier de Ridder Makes Quick Work Of Kevin Holland Via First-Round Submission At UFC 311

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    De Ridder, the former champ-champ in ONE Championship, made his Octagon debut at UFC Vegas 100 last November, getting rocked by Gerald Meerschaert before coming back to score a third-round submission.

    Holland, meanwhile, has now lost four of his last five fights.