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Tag: UFC 311

  • Robert Whittaker On Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan At UFC 311: ‘There’s A Skill Gap…’

    Robert Whittaker On Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan At UFC 311: ‘There’s A Skill Gap…’

    Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker expects at least one title to remain in its current hands this weekend, backing Islam Makhachev to double his lead over Arman Tsarukyan.

    Makhachev and Tsarukyan first collided back in 2019, with the latter making his debut at the UFC Fight Night event in Moscow. While he performed well, the Armenian was ultimately on the wrong end of a decision verdict.

    Six years on, the pair have renewed hostilities in Los Angeles this week, as they gear up to headline Saturday’s UFC 311 pay-per-view with Makhachev’s lightweight gold on the line.

    During a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker gave his assessment of the first PPV main event of the new year.

    While he acknowledged Tsarukyan’s moments of success in their first fight, he sees a clear “skill gap” that will pave the way for Makhachev’s successful defense of the 155-pound title.

    ”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 gap,” Whittaker said. “I feel like there’s a skill gap, and everyone’s saying like, how well Arman (did against Makhachev) — went in his debut short notice etc.

    “But you look at the names, you look at the the level of fights, you look at the stage that Islam’s fights were set on, Islam’s in a really good place right now,” Whittaker continued. “I find it very hard to see him getting defeated.”

    The Dagestani will hope to prove “The Reaper” right come fight night at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome on Jan. 18.

    Should he do so, Makhachev will set a new record for most title fight wins and consecutive defenses in the UFC lightweight division, surpassing both Khabib Nurmagomedov and BJ Penn.

  • Merab Dvalishvili On Support After UFC Title Win: ‘If There Was An Election Now, I Could Become The Georgian President!’

    Merab Dvalishvili On Support After UFC Title Win: ‘If There Was An Election Now, I Could Become The Georgian President!’

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili may be a polarizing figure among MMA fans, but there’s little doubt about public opinion when it comes to his home country.

    Dvalishvili is fast approaching his first defense of the 135-pound gold. “The Machine” will meet the opening hurdle of his reign in the co-main event of UFC 311 this weekend, where the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov awaits.

    The clash comes just four months on from Dvalishvili’s crowning, which was at the expense of Sean O’Malley inside the Sphere last September.

    Like many new champs, the Georgian soon headed home with his newly won championship belt in tow. And the bantamweight kingpin got a hero’s welcome when he arrived and paraded his title around atop a bus.

    Dvalishvili is feeling similar support days out from his first defense, as he explained during a fight week interview with Simon Head for UFC.com. He went as far as to suggest he could get elected as the Georgian leader if he were interested in politics.

    “Once I stepped out from the plane, the police and the people, everybody, (they were) so happy and proud of me,” Dvalishvili said. “It doesn’t matter, young people, old ladies, everybody was watching, everybody was happy, because this is a big deal. Me, as a Georgian guy, fighting in the U.S., then fighting in the UFC, and then becoming UFC champion. That was huge.

    “I think if there was an election now, I could become the Georgian president! I’m serious! But I stay away from politics, because politics is dirty and it’s a lot of drama,” Dvalishvili continued. “I want to do what I know – that’s fighting, and that’s what I’m best at.”

    Dvalishvili will be hoping to maintain his status as champ for his next visit home. That will no doubt be a tall task, with his unbeaten challenger at UFC 311 set to make the walk inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome as the favorite.

    But the Georgian has never shied away from underdog status and firmly expects to make a statement by blemishing the currently perfect record of Nurmagomedov.

  • UFC 311 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan, Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov, & More

    UFC 311 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan, Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov, & More

    UFC 311 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev, who is tasked with getting the better of a familiar foe in Arman Tsarukyan if he’s to record a fourth successful title defense.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see another champ in action as Merab Dvalishvili returns to defend his bantamweight gold for the first time. To ensure his reign survives its first hurdle, “The Machine” must stall the title ambitions of undefeated challenger Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of former two-time light heavyweight champions Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill, veteran lightweight contender Beneil Dariush, and the always entertaining Kevin Holland.

    UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2 Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 311 (as of 1/15), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Islam Makhachev (-410) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (+320)
    • Merab Dvalishvili (+270) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (-340)
    • Jiří Procházka (-102) vs. Jamahal Hill (-118)
    • Beneil Dariush (+145) vs. Renato Moicano (-175)
    • Kevin Holland (-108) vs. Reinier de Ridder (-112)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bogdan Guskov (-310) vs. Billy Elekana (+250)
    • Payton Talbott (-1200) vs. Raoni Barcelos (+750)
    • Jailton Almeida (-425) vs. Serghei Spivac (+330)
    • Zachary Reese (+185) vs. Azamat Bekoev (-225)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Grant Dawson (-258) vs. Diego Ferreira (+210)
    • Karol Rosa (-258) vs. Ailín Pérez (+210)
    • Rinya Nakamura (-500) vs. Muin Gafarov (+380)
    • Ricky Turcios (+270) vs. Benardo Sopaj (-340)
    • Tagir Ulanbekov (-340) vs. Clayton Carpenter (+270)
  • UFC Veteran Explains Why KO Loss Doesn’t Count Against Islam Makhachev In Lightweight GOAT Debate

    UFC Veteran Explains Why KO Loss Doesn’t Count Against Islam Makhachev In Lightweight GOAT Debate

    When it comes to UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev surpassing the greatness of his coach and friend Khabib Nurmagomedov, one former fighter doesn’t think his failure to remain unbeaten comes into play.

    Makhachev, who in 2022 completed his team’s plans for him to become a successor to Khabib’s reign, is nearing his attempt to make history as the 155-pound kingpin.

    After equaling a number of records with his victory over Dustin Poirier last June, the Dagestani could surpass both “The Eagle” and BJ Penn for most lightweight title fight wins and successful defenses when he collides with Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC 311 main event this weekend.

    Should Makhachev achieve that feat, debates over his standing in the GOAT conversation at 155 pounds will only intensify. The one aspect some might say works in favor of Khabib? The one defeat on the current champ’s record.

    But during an episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, former UFC welterweight Matt Brown dismissed any suggestion that Makhachev’s knockout loss to Adriano Martins a decade ago affects his claim to top spot.

    “I think Islam — if he beats Arman — he’s still in that phase where there’s some debate,” Brown said. “For me, personally, the losses don’t take away from that. You can’t say (Makhachev) had a loss and (Khabib) didn’t. You lose when you fight above your level. If Khabib would have fought BJ Penn for his debut pro fight, BJ probably would have beat him.

    “If you’re fighting guys at your level or below, you win, and if you fight guys above your level, you lose,” Brown continued. “When you get to the top, now you’re fighting for the title, you’re the best in the world, now it comes to title defenses for the greatest of all-time. We certainly have to put Islam in that conversation. If anything, the loss shows me you can work through some adversity.”

    Makhachev will look to ensure he avoids doubling his record’s loss count Saturday night at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome.

    To do so, he must repeat his past victory over a much improved and developed Tsarukyan, who is out for redemption and a title crowning of his own.

  • UFC Analyst Predicts ‘Pressure’ Will Be Too Great For Umar Nurmagomedov To Overcome At UFC 311

    UFC Analyst Predicts ‘Pressure’ Will Be Too Great For Umar Nurmagomedov To Overcome At UFC 311

    While Din Thomas acknowledges the skillset Umar Nurmagomedov brings to the Octagon, he doesn’t see him dethroning UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili.

    The pair are set to meet in the co-main event of UFC 311 on Jan. 18 in Los Angeles. Thomas believes the reigning titleholder’s relentless style and ability to handle high-pressure situations will give him the edge over Nurmagomedov.

    “I think Merab wins against Umar,” Thomas told MMA Junkie. “I think Merab beats Umar. I just think that somewhere in that division, it catches up to him. I’m not sure Umar’s the guy though, and it’s not because I don’t think Umar is good enough. I just think that fighting comes down to moments and being able to deal with the pressure. Umar has a lot of weight to carry. The name, there’s a lot going on.”

    The former fighter-turned-analyst highlighted the unique challenges that Dvalishvili presents as a fighter, explaining that his ability to exploit small weaknesses in opponents could be the deciding factor.

    “For him to go out there and fight a guy like Merab — if it was anybody else, I would pick Umar. But a guy like Merab, who has built a career on finding these small, little holes in fighters — he finds these small, little holes and just exposes them with his pressure and his comfortability inside the cage. I think Umar has to watch out for that. I think Merab finds these little moments and breaks him.”

    Despite Thomas’ doubts, Nurmagomedov has expressed unwavering confidence ahead of the fight, claiming he doesn’t see himself losing to Dvalishvili.

    However, the ex-fighter views this confidence as potentially problematic, emphasizing the mental toll that the Georgian’s relentless style can take on an opponent.

    “Those are the things that I try to pay attention to with fighters,” Thomas continued. “The more confidence Umar has, when Merab keeps coming, and he’s like, ‘Damn, I thought this was going to be over,’ and you start to break, that’s when it really exposes itself. I just feel like he’s got all that confidence, and when he realizes that Merab is not going to stop, and he’s like, ‘I’m better, but this guy will not stop,’ you start to lose confidence, you start to break. I can see that happening in this fight.”

  • UFC 311: Aljamain Sterling Promises Merab Dvalishvili Will ‘Shut A Lot Of People Up’ vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

    UFC 311: Aljamain Sterling Promises Merab Dvalishvili Will ‘Shut A Lot Of People Up’ vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

    Umar Nurmagomedov is set to challenge UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili in the co-main event of UFC 311 on Jan. 18 in Los Angeles.

    As the highly anticipated fight approaches, former champion Aljamain Sterling, a teammate of the current titleholder’s, has added his perspective and sparked debate among fight fans.

    In a recent UFC 311 breakdown video shared on his YouTube channel, Sterling offered his analysis, questioning whether Nurmagomedov has truly proven himself at the elite level.

    Sterling believes that Dvalishvili’s performance in this fight will solidify his status as the best the division has to offer.

    “I think if we can keep the fight where we want it, Merab is gonna shut a lot of people up and prove a lot of people right that he is who he says he is,” Sterling remarked. “No disrespect to Umar by any means. For me, it just comes down to one guy who has done the work and another being propped up by the accolades of what his relative has done.

    “I understand he’s trying to carve out his own name in history, but facts are still facts. The jury’s still out on Umar. We don’t really know if he’s really that guy just yet.”

    Sterling’s comments carry weight, with the former champ having been a part of Dvalishvili’s camp and preparation.

  • Umar Nurmagomedov Plans To Give Headlining Teammate Islam Makhachev ‘Good Energy’ With ‘Perfect’ UFC 311 Win

    Umar Nurmagomedov Plans To Give Headlining Teammate Islam Makhachev ‘Good Energy’ With ‘Perfect’ UFC 311 Win

    UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov is well aware of the pressure on him to set the stage for Islam Makhachev this weekend.

    Nurmagomedov is days out from his first title challenge on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, as the undefeated Dagestani battles for Merab Dvalishvili’s 135-pound gold in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC 311 pay-per-view.

    Should the 29-year-old have his hand raised, celebrations for his crowning won’t last long within the team.

    Attention inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome will have to immediately turn to another assignment for one of their men, with Makhachev set to defend his lightweight throne opposite Arman Tsarukyan in the main event.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Nurmagomedov acknowledged the need to perform well with his teammate watching on backstage ahead of his own walk to the Octagon.

    “It’s going to be a hard night for our team,” Nurmagomedov said. “Two fights for the title very close together. It’s going to be nervous. Islam is going to be nervous watching my fight, but I will fight perfect. I will try to not even miss one punch, to give him good energy.

    “It’s always (harder watching them fight),” Nurmagomedov said. “When you’re fighting, you can control everything. And when someone else is fighting – your brother, your close friends – you can just give him advice. Fighting (yourself is) easy, more easy. Any fighter will tell you.”

    Fight week hasn’t exactly started smoothly for Nurmagomedov’s team after their coach, the great Khabib Nurmagomedov, was shown being kicked off a flight to Los Angeles in a video that went viral this past weekend.

    While that remains a hot topic, they’ll look to forget those issues and focus on the task at hand on Jan. 18, when the team will hope to double its amount of UFC gold rather than leave Inglewood with none altogether.

  • ‘Easily Some Of The Best’ – Fans React As Makhachev & Dvalishvili Get First Custom Shorts Of 2025 For UFC 311

    ‘Easily Some Of The Best’ – Fans React As Makhachev & Dvalishvili Get First Custom Shorts Of 2025 For UFC 311

    The first UFC PPV card of the year is just days away with UFC 311 taking place on Saturday January 18 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. With two title fights set to top the card, the promotion is continuing the tradition which began last year of giving select fighters the opportunity to design custom shorts.

    We’ve seen some instantly iconic designs in the past with the likes of Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway and Alex Pereira coming to mind for having shorts that have helped to define their personalities and cultures. Both of the champions who are set to defend their titles this weekend have received their own unique pair of personal fight gear as lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and bantamweight titleholder Merab Dvalishvili pay tribute to their backgrounds.

    Both men have fought in title fights since the promotion started doing this highly-celebrated trend but neither have had the opportunity to get their own designs as of yet. For Makhachev, his shorts predominantly feature the steep terrain of Dagestan and the Caucasus Mountains with a geometric design. The other main feature appears to be a traditional sword or dagger strapped to his side that is carried by people from this region.

    Georgian MMA reporter Giorgi Kokiashvili helped to break down on social media how Dvalishvili’s shorts pay homage to his home country where he has been received as a hero since winning the 135-pound title in September.

    Fans reacted to the two new additions to the custom shorts wardrobe on social media.

    “Lowkey heat”

    “Alright, the mountain shorts are nice.”

    “These are solid. But I feel like years of boring ass kits have us excited for anything different.”

    “Easily some of the best custom shorts”

    “Merab got them lifeguard shorts”

  • UFC 311: Arman Tsarukyan ‘Just Going To Think About Money’, Not Legacy After Title Win

    UFC 311: Arman Tsarukyan ‘Just Going To Think About Money’, Not Legacy After Title Win

    UFC lightweight title challenger Arman Tsarukyan knows what he wants, and it’s not the kind of accolades many others are chasing.

    Tsarukyan is days out from his first title challenge on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. The Armenian is set to run it back with current champion Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 311 this weekend.

    While he fell short against the Dagestani in his debut back in 2019, Tsarukyan is confident of avenging that defeat and securing his place atop the lightweight mountain on Jan. 18.

    And when he does so, there will seemingly be a sizable focus shift for “Akhalkalakets.”

    During a recent interview with Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman on their Pound 4 Pound podcast, Tsarukyan outlined his intention to pursue nothing but “money fights” once he becomes champ, dismissing any notion of chasing two-division glory or a record-breaking run of title defenses.

    “After this fight, when I’m champion, I’m just gonna think about money, not about being two-time champion or (defending the title) 10 times. I’m just gonna think about money fights,” Tsarukyan said. “I’m not thinking what happens after this fight, I’m just (thinking) after this fight. Maybe my father says, ‘You know what, you’re done with this sport. You won the title, come and work, make money with me.’ So, you never know.”

    Before looking to bring that to fruition, though, Tsarukyan must first unseat Makhachev.

    In contrast to the challenger’s plans, Makhachev has been chasing greatness with his run as titleholder. Following successful retentions against Alexander Volkanovski (twice) and Dustin Poirier, a victory this Saturday at the Intuit Dome would see the Dagestani surpass BJ Penn and Khabib Nurmagomedov for lightweight title fight wins and conseuctive defenses.

  • ‘Tired’ Khabib Nurmagomedov Hopes He Can Retire From Coaching Soon Ahead Of UFC 311 Assignments

    ‘Tired’ Khabib Nurmagomedov Hopes He Can Retire From Coaching Soon Ahead Of UFC 311 Assignments

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov returned to cornering fighters last year following a brief break, but it seems he’s already wanting to give up coaching in its entirety.

    Khabib is set for a busy week in Los Angeles, where two of his team’s most prominent fighters will take up headline spots for the UFC 311 pay-per-view on Jan. 18.

    Before 155-pound kingpin Islam Makhachev defends his crown in the main event, “The Eagle’s” cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov, will challenge for Merab Dvalishvili’s bantamweight throne in the co-headliner.

    The retired legend will be cageside calling the shots for both — a position he took up following his retirement from active competition in 2020. But it doesn’t seem like he plans on staying there longer than necessary.

    During a recent interview uploaded to ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Khabib discussed how long he plans to be in the coaching game for, revealing that he doesn’t intend on occupying the role beyond the careers of his current crop of fighters.

    “When the guys finish, I’m going to finish,” Khabib said. “I hope it’s going to be very fast, I’m tired of all this. We’ve been on top of this game for like, seven, eight years, since I became a champion. All these guys were with me, they were with my father when I was starting.

    “There are still six, eight (fighters competing) at a very high level. When they finish, I will finish too,” Khabib added.

    The immediate lead-up to UFC 311 didn’t get off to the smoothest of starts for Khabib, who was the subject of a viral video that showed him being removed from a plane ahead of a flight from Los Vegas to California this past weekend.

    While “The Eagle” eventually boarded a different flight and made his way to the state, the fallout from the incident has continued this week, with Frontier Airlines most recently releasing a statement in defense of the flight attendant who had the exchange with the former UFC fighter.

  • UFC 311 Lineup Takes Another Hit At The Start Of Fight Week

    UFC 311 Lineup Takes Another Hit At The Start Of Fight Week

    The upcoming UFC 311 pay-per-view event has lost another fight days on from Johnny Walker’s forced withdrawal.

    Walker was scheduled to figure in the featured preliminary bout of Saturday’s card opposite Bogdan Guskov in a clash of ranked light heavyweights. But with the Brazilian ruled out, the Hungarian will now face UFC newcomer Billy Elekana.

    And that’s not the only replacement the promotion will need to secure on late notice.

    The @octagonupdate account on X reported Monday that Sedriques Dumas has also pulled out from a UFC 311 prelim. “The Reaper,” who most recently outpointed Denis Tiuliulin last August in Abu Dhabi, was slated to face Zachary Reese inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome.

    It remains to be seen whether or not a new opponent will be found for Reese, a 30-year-old middleweight prospect who has gone 2-1 since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Won’t Repeat Control-Heavy Sean O’Malley Strategy At UFC 311: ‘I’m Going To Punch His Face’

    Merab Dvalishvili Won’t Repeat Control-Heavy Sean O’Malley Strategy At UFC 311: ‘I’m Going To Punch His Face’

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili has provided insight into the approach he plans to take when sharing the cage with Umar Nurmagomedov this weekend.

    Dvalishvili is days out from his first title defense at UFC 311, which comes four months on from his capturing of the crown at the expense of Sean O’Malley last September.

    On that occasion, the Georgian utilized his smothering grappling game to get the better of “Suga” across five rounds. But with his undefeated Dagestani opponent boasting a renowned wrestling ability, the champ may not be able to repeat the feat come fight night this Saturday.

    That much was acknowledged by Dvalishvili during a recent appearance on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, as he outlined plans to defeat Nurmagomedov via the striking realm inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome.

    “I’m ready for striking. I’m not looking to take him down, control him, and lay on top like (Sean) O’Malley,” Dvalishvili said. “I’m going to punch his face, kick his legs, keep (the fight) on the feet, and I’m going to show a good fight. It’s going to be a great fight. A lot of scrapping, a lot of exchanges. I believe it’s going to be Fight of the Night or something.”

    Dvalishvili initially pushed back on Nurmagomedov’s top contender status, instead pitching a number of other matchups for his first defense in the weeks and months after his title win inside the Sphere.

    Nevertheless, the unbeaten Russian will be the first test to his reign, and “The Machine” has vowed to make a statement with his performance in Los Angeles.

  • VIDEO: UFC 311 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2 & Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov

    VIDEO: UFC 311 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2 & Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov

    Fight week for the UFC 311 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode.

    Under the spotlight in this edition is the headline rematch between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan and the co-main event between Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Saturday’s UFC 311 lineup is topped by a championship clash, with lightweight kingpin Makhachev (26-1) looking to add a fourth successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a memorable victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in October 2022.

    If the Dagestani is to continue his rule atop the 155-pound mountain, he must stall the title ambitions of a familiar foe in Tsarukyan (22-3). The Armenian fell to Makhachev by way of a narrow decision in his UFC debut almost six years ago. Having risen the ranks and most recently gotten the better of Oliveira himself, “Akhalkalakets” has the chance for redemption opposite the champ.

    Before those two run it back in the main event at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome, another UFC title will be at stake.

    The bantamweight gold will be contested by current champ Dvalishvili (18-4) and undefeated contender Nurmagomedov (18-0), as they settle a rivalry that has only intensified in recent months. While “The Machine” will return four months on from his capturing of the strap at the expense of Sean O’Malley, the “Young Eagle” is set to make the walk for the first time since a statement-making victory over Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi last August.

    Ahead of those two contests in LA, fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 311 Countdown on the promotion’s official YouTube channel.

    UFC 311 Countdown: Full Episode

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxY2zoeT2UI
  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Issues Statement After Being Kicked Off Flight Ahead Of UFC 311: ‘Did My Best To Stay Calm…’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Issues Statement After Being Kicked Off Flight Ahead Of UFC 311: ‘Did My Best To Stay Calm…’

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has spoken publicly after footage of his removal from a flight before takeoff went viral this weekend.

    Khabib will be in Los Angeles next week as two of his team’s star fighters compete with gold on the line at the UFC 311 pay-per-view. Inside the Intuit Dome, Islam Makhachev will headline in defense of his lightweight crown, while Umar Nurmagomedov will first challenge for the bantamweight gold.

    But while attention will soon be on their showdowns with Arman Tsarukyan and Merab Dvalishvili, respectively, the biggest talking point a day out from UFC 311 fight week has surrounded their coach.

    A video emerged on Sunday showing Khabib being removed from a plane due to fly from Las Vegas to LA. Audio from the incident appeared to reveal a dispute with a flight attendant over the Dagestani’s seat on the emergency exit row.

    After the video went viral and drew out plenty of reactions from the MMA community online, Khabib took to Instagram to give his side of the story and clarify which airline he was attempting to fly with.

    “First of all, I need to clarify that it was @flyfrontier not AlaskaAir. Lady who comes to me with questions was very rude from the very beginning, even though I speak very decent English and can understand everything and agreed to assist, she still insists on removing me from my seat. What was the base for that, racial, national or other one, I’m not sure.

    “But after 2 minutes of conversation, she called security and I was deplaned from this aircraft, after 1,5 hour I boarded another airline one and left to my destination. I did my best to stay calm and respectful as you can see on the video. But those crew members could do better next time and just be nice with clients.”

    It remains to be seen what will come of the incident, which has spread across the Internet and resulted in some of the former UFC champion’s fans calling for a boycott of the airline in question.

    “The Eagle” himself, meanwhile, will no doubt be looking to keep his focus on the task at hand next week, as he gears up for two crucial contests for his team at the UFC 311 PPV on Jan. 18.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Johnny Walker Out Of UFC 311, Replacement Revealed

    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 6, and Sunday, January 12, 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 a number of fights falling through or getting adjusted:

  • Merab Dvalishvili Comments On Ex-Teammate Aiding Umar Nurmagomedov Ahead Of UFC 311

    Merab Dvalishvili Comments On Ex-Teammate Aiding Umar Nurmagomedov Ahead Of UFC 311

    Merab Dvalishvili harbors no ill will toward his former training partner, even though he has joined forces with his rival.

    “The Machine” is poised to put his bantamweight title on the line for the first time against Umar Nurmagomedov in the co-main event at UFC 311, taking place on Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    The buildup to this fight has been brimming with palpable tension, as Nurmagomedov has been vocal in his pursuit of a title shot for some time. While Dvalishvili initially seemed hesitant to accept the challenge, the matchup was ultimately confirmed.

    Interestingly, a recent social media post from Georgian journalist Giorgi Kokiashvili has injected even more drama into the upcoming matchup. Kokiashvili revealed that Magdi Amachov, the former teammate of the reigning 135-pound champion, is now lending his support to “The Young Eagle” in preparation for UFC 311.

    This comes after Dvalishvili had previously helped Amachov settle in the United States, even offering him accommodation.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Dvalishvili weighed in on the ongoing situation with Amachov, emphasizing that he holds no animosity towards his former training partner.

    “The Machine” explained that Amachov’s decision to join Nurmagomedov’s fight camp was motivated by a desire to support his Dagestani compatriot, rather than any personal conflict.

    “I love him and I did help him but I didn’t do it because I own him you know? He’s a big man and he can do whatever he wants,” Dvalishvili said. “He’s from Dagestan, and I know he loves Islam Makhachev, I know he loves Khabib Nurmagomedov, of course Umar Nurmagomedov. They call each other Muslim brothers, and I’m not surprised, of course. That’s his country, that’s his friends. I mean, I will not do that, but I will also not judge him. I love him, and I understand this, and I’m not mad at him. That’s OK.”

    Dvalishvili captured the bantamweight title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 in September 2024. He is riding high on an 11-fight unbeaten streak.

    Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov is fresh off a unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi in August 2024, extending his undefeated streak to six straight wins inside the Octagon.

  • UFC Insider: LA Wildfires Create Concern Over UFC 311 Venue, Vegas In Play

    UFC Insider: LA Wildfires Create Concern Over UFC 311 Venue, Vegas In Play

    With UFC 311 just a week away, uncertainty looms over the events venue as reports suggest the ongoing crisis in Los Angeles has thrown the event’s location into uncertainty.

    The UFC is set to open its 2025 pay-per-view slate with an action-packed fight lineup. Scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, the card is topped by two high-profile title clashes.

    In the main event, UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev will defend his belt against Arman Tsarukyan, while the co-main event features Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili defending his title against Umar Nurmagomedov.

    However, one pressing challenge facing Dana White and Co. is the raging wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, which have sparked uncertainty within the MMA community about whether UFC 311 will proceed as planned at the Intuit Dome. The natural calamity has already claimed over 10,000 homes and taken at least 11 lives. The once-thriving Pacific Palisades area has been almost completely destroyed, and the fires have now spread to the iconic Hollywood Hills, just a mere 20 miles from the UFC 311 venue.

    According to veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, the UFC has been assessing the situation regarding UFC 311 next Saturday. As of now, the highly anticipated event is set to proceed at the Intuit Dome. However, the promotion is keeping a vigilant eye on the unfolding crisis and stands prepared to relocate the event if necessary.

    Helwani revealed that talks about postponing the card have not taken place. If a venue change is required, T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is reportedly the leading contingency option, though the UFC has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.

    Numerous public events across Los Angeles County have already been called off for the weekend, as local resources are overwhelmed in an effort to control the growing damage. An official statement from the Intuit Dome confirmed that the two events slated for the arena have either been canceled or rescheduled.

  • Payton Talbott Has Surprise Opponent In Mind After UFC 311 Return: ‘He Has This Vendetta Against Women’

    Payton Talbott Has Surprise Opponent In Mind After UFC 311 Return: ‘He Has This Vendetta Against Women’

    Payton Talbott was one of the breakout stars of 2024 after extending his winning streak inside the Octagon to 3-0. The 26-year old earned back-to-back performance bonuses for his finishes over Cameron Saaiman and Yanis Ghemmouri which have marked him out as one of the most exciting bantamweights in the world right now.

    He’s now set to continue this momentum into 2025 when at UFC 311 on January 18, he takes on Brazil’s Raoni Barcelos at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Whilst the 11-fight UFC veteran is his primary focus right now, Talbott has his eyes on another potential opponent.

    Rather than having a name in and around the top 15 which he hopes to meet inside the Octagon if he is successful against Barcelos, the Las Vegas native has a bone to pick with the incredibly controversial Andrew Tate. As a former kickboxer who last competed in 2020, Tate has been linked with fighters calling him out for several years.

    His current legal issues, which include him being placed under house arrest in Romania for human trafficking, have stopped any form of contest from ever happening but Talbott still wanted to put his intentions out there during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani show.

    “Yeah, that’s the one. Yeah, let’s get that going. I’d take that; I’d take that. Yeah, yeah, it’s just a free-for-all.”

    When asked why he wants to have a fight with Tate, who is a huge name in popular culture for a lot of undesirable reasons, Talbott said that it’s his heavily criticized views on women that particularly bother him.

    “He’s just the antithesis of me,” Talbott said. “It seems like someone just cheated on him when he was younger, and now he has this vendetta against women. I feel like he takes himself super seriously, and it’s just like, he’s kind of a poison for masculine culture.”

  • Reinier de Ridder Vows To ‘Wreck’ Kevin Holland At UFC 311 After Not Going ‘Full Throttle’ In Debut

    Reinier de Ridder Vows To ‘Wreck’ Kevin Holland At UFC 311 After Not Going ‘Full Throttle’ In Debut

    UFC newcomer Reinier de Ridder may not have majorly impressed in his debut, but he’s confident of leaving a mark when he makes his sophomore walk to the Octagon this month.

    De Ridder, a former two-division ONE Championship titleholder, arrived on MMA’s biggest stage in 2024 following a shock departure from the Asia-based organization. After confirming that he’d be competing at 185 pounds, the Dutchman got his first taste of UFC action against veteran Gerald Meerschaert last November.

    Their Apex clash was a competitive one, with “GM3” finding plenty of success before ultimately falling to an arm-triangle choke submission in round three. But despite having his hand raised, de Ridder’s performance seemingly left much to be desired.

    During a recent appearance on MMA Junkie Radio, “The Dutch Knight” looked ahead to his next fight — a clash with the always entertaining Kevin Holland at next weekend’s UFC 311 pay-per-view.

    De Ridder first sought to explain the reasons behind his lackluster debut display before asserting plans to put a demolition job on “Big Mouth” come fight night in Los Angeles on Jan. 18.

    “At the end of the day, a fight is a fight, of course, and I’ve been in plenty of fights, so I know how to take care of that part of the deal,” de Ridder said. “There’s a lot going on behind the scenes, of course. I like Gerald a lot; I respected Gerald a lot coming into this one, so I didn’t go as full throttle from the bat as I will this fight. I’m just coming in to wreck this guy this time.

    “I’m very happy with the fight, of course,” de Ridder continued. “Kevin is a name, and it’s a quick turnaround, so I’m very happy about that. … He’s very wild on the feet. But I’m going to put a lot of pressure on him, hit him with some good shots, take him down, choke him out, hopefully.”

    While de Ridder enters the contest off two straight wins, the first of which came under the UAE Warriors banner last July, Holland has lost three of his last four.

    After returning to middleweight in 2024 with a crushing submission win over Michał Oleksiejczuk, Holland’s push to regain a ranking was stalled by Roman Dolidze, who dominated “Trailblazer” at UFC 307 before an injury to the American brought the fight to a premature end.

  • Usman Nurmagomedov ‘More Stressed’ For Umar & Makhachev’s UFC 311 Fights Than His Own Title Defense

    Usman Nurmagomedov ‘More Stressed’ For Umar & Makhachev’s UFC 311 Fights Than His Own Title Defense

    Usman Nurmagomedov may display nerves of steel in his own fighting career, but when it comes to the bouts involving his brother Umar Nurmagomedov and teammate Islam Makhachev, his composure begins to waver.

    A lightweight title fight between current champ Islam Makhachev and challenger Arman Tsarukyan is set to headline UFC 311. Meanwhile, the co-main event will see a UFC bantamweight championship bout between reigning kingpin Merab Dvalishvili and the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

    As for Usman, he will defend his Bellator lightweight title against Paul Hughes at PFL’s Champions Series: Road to Dubai event on Jan. 25, just one week after UFC 311.

    “Honestly, I’m more nervous about these guys fighting than my own,” Usman told MMA Junkie. “My fights, I don’t care even. I know what I can do, and I know my skills. I just have to go in the cage and [the] referee will say, ‘Let’s start guys.’ I love this.

    “I am more stressed and more nervous about Umar, about Islam, about Tagir (Ulanbekov) and these guys. But with these guys, Khabib is there. Even if Khabib wasn’t there, it’s because I love these guys so much. That’s why I’m nervous. They will win, I believe.”

    Usman confirmed that he would not attend UFC 311 due to logistical challenges.

  • Colby Covington: Arman Tsarukyan Has The Power To Knock Out Islam Makhachev At UFC 311

    Colby Covington: Arman Tsarukyan Has The Power To Knock Out Islam Makhachev At UFC 311

    A UFC lightweight championship bout between current kingpin Islam Makhachev and challengerArman Tsarukyan is set to headline UFC 311. The pay-per-view event will take place on Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    While Tsarukyan enters the fight as the underdog, former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington believes an upset is possible. “Chaos” noted that if Tsarukyan can keep the fight on the feet, he has a realistic shot at dethroning the reigning champion.

    Tsarukyan trains at American Top Team, Covington’s former gym, which is now preparing for its second consecutive lightweight title fight. “Chaos” expressed confidence in the challenger during an interview with Submission Radio.

    “I do think he can get it done. I think he’s an athlete. Look how flexible he is. Look how he got out of that choke with Charles (Oliveira). That was impressive. He dug deep for that, and you know he’s got a better coach. He’s got a great coach. I believe in Arman. He’s an athlete. He’s got big power in his hands. If he believes in his hands, I think he can knock out Makhachev.”

    This fight marks a rematch between Makhachev and Tsarukyan. They first faced off in April 2019 at a UFC Fight Night event in Moscow, where Makhachev secured a unanimous decision victory.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Will Be The Bantamweight GOAT If He Beats Umar Nurmagomedov, Asserts Coach

    Merab Dvalishvili Will Be The Bantamweight GOAT If He Beats Umar Nurmagomedov, Asserts Coach

    Merab Dvalishvili has made it very clear that he didn’t want to fight as soon as UFC 311 in January and he didn’t want to face Umar Nurmagomedov in his first title defense. The undefeated challenger presents a big threat to the champion but, to Merab’s point, has only beaten one top contender in the division to earn his shot.

    Whilst it is a risky fight for Dvalishvili who seemed to get on board with the matchup when he became emotionally invested in beating Nurmagomedov to silence some of the criticism that he has faced, his coach believes that this is a massive opportunity for the Georgian. In fact, John Wood thinks that this fight could separate his fighter as the best 135-pounder of all time.

    On one hand, it seems like a very bold claim to state that you can be considered the best ever in your weight class following one successful title defense but that isn’t necessarily the case that Wood is making. A huge reason why Dvalishvili didn’t want to fight Nurmagomedov is because he felt like the challenger hadn’t earned his shot the hard way unlike him who had to accumulate 10 consecutive wins to get his first title fight inside the Octagon.

    Many believed that the 33-year old had been the champion in waiting for a long time and if you factor in his wins over top contenders like Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan and José Aldo who he beat before he faced Sean O’Malley for the gold, it presents a much better picture.

    “(If) Merab goes out and beats Umar, which I believe he will, I think there’s no question that he’s the bantamweight GOAT,” Wood told Inside Fighting. “And had all those guys that he beat been title defenses, it’s not even a question now. So I think we’re looking at the next bantamweight GOAT here shortly.”

  • UFC 311: Arman Tsarukyan Teases ‘One Trick’ That Will Make The Difference Against Islam Makhachev

    UFC 311: Arman Tsarukyan Teases ‘One Trick’ That Will Make The Difference Against Islam Makhachev

    Arman Tsarukyan seemingly has a special weapon ready to bring out when he challenges for Islam Makhachev’s lightweight title at UFC 311.

    Tsarukyan will have his first shot at gold on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage next weekend, when he headlines the first pay-per-view of the new year opposite Makhachev.

    The pair will run it back almost six years on from their first showdown, a three-round clash at a UFC Fight Night in Moscow that went the distance and was won by the current champ.

    During a fight camp video uploaded to the Red Corner MMA YouTube channel, Tsarukyan explained how he plans on securing a different outcome against the Dagestani second time around.

    “Of course, I’ve got one trick prepared that I believe in,” Tsarukyan said. “I know it will work. And it will change the whole course of the fight.”

    The rematch between Makhachev and Tsarukyan headlines the Jan. 18 card inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome, with Merab Dvalishvili’s first bantamweight defense opposite Umar Nurmagomedov marking the other title fight on the lineup.

    Elsewhere, the likes of Jiří Procházka, Renato Moicano, Kevin Holland, Johnny Walker, Payton Talbott and Jailton Almeida will look to kick off their year in style.

  • UFC 311: Arman Tsarukyan Reveals Islam Makhachev’s Supportive Words After Defeat In First Fight

    UFC 311: Arman Tsarukyan Reveals Islam Makhachev’s Supportive Words After Defeat In First Fight

    On April 20 in 2019, Arman Tsarukyan would suffer just the second loss of his pro career at the time when he stepped into his UFC debut on short notice. Little did he know that six years later, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, he would get the opportunity to earn his revenge against the same opponent that welcomed him to the Octagon in St. Petersburg.

    The top contender in the lightweight division will face Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound title in the main event of UFC 311 in their second encounter. Despite their history with one another, and Tsarukyan’s pursuit of his former foe up the division’s rankings, there isn’t any bad blood between them in the build-up to January 18.

    In fact, Tsarukyan recently revealed that the current lightweight champion game him plenty of praise and encouragement in the immediate aftermath of their first contest in Russia. The Armenian may have lost the fight but he was able to impress a lot of people with his performance after he was able to really test one of the most highly regarded rising contenders in the division over three rounds.

    It seems that it wasn’t just fans that came away with good things to say about the lightweight division’s newest arrival. The challenger spoke in a video put out by Red Corner MMA about how Makhachev consoled him after he was devastated to have lost his UFC debut.

    “Yes, of course I do. After the battle, he supported me and said, ‘You’re still young. Everything is ahead of you. Don’t be upset.’ And I was like, ‘I’m not that young,’ fell down, well, sat down and covered my eyes. Yes, I never liked losing, no matter how young I was.”

  • UFC 311: Beneil Dariush Explains The Key To Beating Islam Makhachev

    Beneil Dariush believes that defeating UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev requires mastering the striking game and has shared his insights on how he would approach such a challenge.

    Makhachev is set to defend his title in a highly anticipated rematch against Arman Tsarukyan later this month in the UFC 311 main event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    Makhachev has been nearly unstoppable in his career, boasting a 14-fight winning streak since his sole loss — a knockout defeat to Adriano Martins in October 2015. His dominance in grappling and pressure-heavy style has made him one of the most formidable fighters in the division.

    “You have to meet his feints,” Dariush explained to Inside Fighting. “He does a lot of feints and fakes. If you don’t meet those, he’s going to push you back and put pressure on you just with that. If you can meet his feints, you start to see his reactions and understand what he wants to do.”

    Dariush emphasized the importance of being a well-rounded fighter but suggested that a specialization in striking, combined with solid grappling skills, could be the key to dethroning the champion.

    “He specializes in grappling, so it’s going to cancel out [if you’re also a good grappler]. But if you specialize in striking and are good enough to grapple, I think you can put more pressure on him.”

    The UFC veteran will also be in action at UFC 311, facing Renato Moicano in a lightweight bout on the same main card.