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Tag: UFC 311

  • Umar Nurmagomedov Accuses Merab Dvalishvili Of Seeking Easy Opponents Ahead Of UFC 311 Clash

    Umar Nurmagomedov Accuses Merab Dvalishvili Of Seeking Easy Opponents Ahead Of UFC 311 Clash

    Umar Nurmagomedov believes Merab Dvalishvili selectively targets opponents he deems less challenging.

    Nurmagomedov is gearing up to challenge reigning bantamweight champion Dvalishvili in the co-main event of UFC 311, scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    “The Young Eagle” has been on a relentless quest for his first title opportunity since his dominant unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi in August 2024. However, Dvalishvili has appeared hesitant to put his belt on the line against Nurmagomedov ever since claiming the championship at UFC 306.

    “The Machine” initially refuted claims that the undefeated Dagestani deserves a title shot, advocating instead for rematches with familiar foes like Sean O’Malley and Petr Yan. He even went further, suggesting that former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is a more deserving challenger for the 135-pound crown.

    This led to widespread speculation among fans and pundits, with many accusing Dvalishvili of avoiding Nurmagomedov out of fear. Now that the fight has been officially scheduled, “The Young Eagle” has dismissed these claims as unfounded.

    During a recent UFC interview (via MMA Fighting), Nurmagomedov accused Dvalishvili of cherry-picking low-risk opponents to safeguard his record and earn easy paydays. He emphasized that facing him would present an entirely different challenge.

    “I think he just wants to fight with a guy who [he] can beat,” Nurmagomedov said. “It does not mean I 100 percent go inside the cage and smash him. No. He knows, other guys, he will beat [them]. Me? It’s going to be hard. That’s why he tried to be champion a long time. He wants to fight with O’Malley or with Petr Yan or someone else because he knows these guys, easy money. Me? Not.

    “What I know, what I understand, he does not [want a] risky fight. He can beat me; it can happen. It’s not going to break me. I will be the same Umar. Fighting is fighting. Everybody can lose, everybody can win. We’re not talking about what’s going to happen in the fight. If we’re talking about scared, I think he just wants to take [less] risk.”

    Nurmagomedov is on an impressive six-fight win streak in the UFC since making his debut in January 2021.

    Meanwhile, “The Machine” extended his remarkable unbeaten run to 11 straight victories after claiming the bantamweight title with a dominant win over Sean O’Malley in September 2024.

  • Islam Makhachev’s Training Partners Have To Be ‘Helped Emotionally’, Claims Manager

    Islam Makhachev’s Training Partners Have To Be ‘Helped Emotionally’, Claims Manager

    When Khabib Nurmagomedov made the decision to retire and vacate the UFC lightweight title, it meant that his teammate, Islam Makhachev, would get his time to shine. Following the title reign of Charles Oliveira that took place in-between, Makhachev ascended to the throne and he now sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings.

    Makhachev was always a highly regarded competitor but he seems to make visual improvements each and every time that he steps inside the Octagon. A big reason for that and his consistency is because like his training partner and coach, he has an incredible work ethic and drive.

    Fans have seen glimpses and heard stories about how hard Khabib works his team in the gym now that he’s leading the practices. With Makhachev set to headline UFC 311 on January 18 in a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan and Umar Nurmagomedov challenging for the bantamweight title in the co-main event, this has been no different during their residency at the UFC PI in Las Vegas.

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Dominance MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz provided some insight regarding the kind of cycle that Makhachev puts his training partners through on a daily basis. He said that fighters have to take rest days after going head-to-head with the lightweight champion and that has only continued to grow in recent times.

    “Listen, we have to give his training partners days off from training for them to be ready for sparring day. Seriously. We have to help guys emotionally… I grappled with him the other day and I was like, ‘What the hell am I doing?’ I can hold my own against anybody in grappling, somebody my size. But I felt like I was a little kid playing with a bear. This is how I felt. I was like, ‘There’s no sense in me even training with this guy ever again.’ In a way I felt bad, because I’m a man. But in reality, I felt so confident, how good [Makhachev] is.”

  • Former Opponent Reveals What Arman Tsarukyan Can Take From First Makhachev Fight

    Former Opponent Reveals What Arman Tsarukyan Can Take From First Makhachev Fight

    On January 18, Arman Tsarukyan will finally get an opportunity that he has been chasing for a long time. The #1-ranked contender will not only get the chance to challenge for the lightweight title in the main event of UFC 311 but he has the possibility of avenging one of his only losses in the process.

    Tsarukyan debuted in the UFC back in April of 2019 where he stepped in on short notice to face Islam Makhachev in Russia. He didn’t get his hand raised on that occasion but in a fight of the night winning contest, he showed that he was a serious player in the 155-pound division.

    Makhachev’s success after that fight only made Tsarukyan’s debut performance against him even more impressive but now he gets the chance to run it back with the man who handed him the second defeat of his career. In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, Beneil Dariush gave his thoughts on the matchup.

    Dariush faced Tsarukyan in December of 2023 where he was caught early on by a huge right hand that ended the contest in just over a minute. He believes that if there’s anything that the challenger needs to take from his first meeting with the current champion, it’s that same hunger and aggression.

    He thinks that Tsarukyan’s best chance of winning the fight is by being on the front foot early on which is where he had success against both Makhachev and Dariush in the past.

    “It was so long ago. I think if you look at Arman’s mentality in that fight, that’s the right mentality. Take the fight to him, right. I think that’s what he should do. So I think that he could take that from that fight as like, ‘Hey, when I took the fight to him, I won’. I want to say people, was it the first round that he won according the judges? He went out there and he want hard, you know. He went after him in the first round so I think that’s something he could do.”

  • Merab Dvalishvili Details Plans To Retire After Going 1-2 At The Start Of Pro Career

    Merab Dvalishvili Details Plans To Retire After Going 1-2 At The Start Of Pro Career

    In the build up to his first title defense at UFC 311, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has spoken a lot about respect and hard work. He does not believe that his challenger, the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov, has earned his spot like he and others have by continuing to push their way to the top.

    The Georgian certainly didn’t have an easy road to eventually becoming champion at UFC 306 this past September where he defeated Sean O’Malley. After losing his first two fights inside the Octagon, Dvalishvili turned his fortunes around fight-by-fight by winning ten in a row before he got the chance to fight for the title.

    However, the adversity that he faced early in his career nearly stopped him from ever pursuing his dream of competing in the UFC at the highest level of the sport. After turning pro in 2014, Dvalishvili fought three times and ended the year with an overall record of 1-2 after losing two decisions against Darren Mima and Ricky Bandejas.

    In a recent appearance on Eric Nicksick’s Verse Us podcast, the champion spoke about how the difficult start to his pro career nearly led to him throwing the towel in for good and never looking back.

    “I was booked for my next fight but I had like headaches and you know, I wasn’t happy and not motivated and I tell them maybe first time ever, cancel fight. I said no, I want some time off and I was thinking I’m gonna live normal life like normal people.”

    Dvalishvili spoke about how he had resigned himself to the idea that he would continue working in construction whilst trying to raise a family but eventually, he found the desire to compete again. He revealed that though he did resume his career, he had decided that the likes of the UFC and Bellator might be off the table for him but he could still make good money by travelling and competing elsewhere.

    After winning five fights in a row, his fight against Raufeon Stots was featured on Dana White’s Lookin’ For A Fight where he produced a spinning backfist knockout in the opening 15 seconds to earn his UFC contract.

    “I came back because I missed it and I said, ‘I don’t care if I lose’. In my head I was thinking I’m not the best because if I lost here in Ring of Combat, I was 1-2, how am I gonna win in the UFC and how am I going to make it to UFC. But, I said I missed this, I don’t care. Win or lose, I’m just gonna keep fighting.”

  • Umar Nurmagomedov: ‘Nobody Will Be Surprised’ If Merab Dvalishvili Withdraws From UFC 311

    Umar Nurmagomedov: ‘Nobody Will Be Surprised’ If Merab Dvalishvili Withdraws From UFC 311

    Should something force bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili out of UFC 311, challenger Umar Nurmagomedov would not be the least bit shocked.

    The undefeated Dagestani is set to mark the first threat to the Georgian’s reign this year after his crowning at the expense of Sean O’Malley last September.

    They’ll co-headline the opening pay-per-view event of 2025, UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Top spot on the lineup has fallen to Nurmagomedov’s teammate, lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, and his rematch with Arman Tsarukyan.

    But according to the surging bantamweight, it would come as a surprise to nobody if he ended up watching proceedings from the audience instead of competing on the night.

    During a recent interview uploaded to the UFC’s YouTube channel, Nurmagomedov assessed the likelihood of Dvalishvili withdrawing.

    “I will not be surprised and nobody will be surprised. Even right now, I saw like commentary on Twitter, they said he will pull out, but he never pulled out before. I hope he will not and the fight is going to happen,” Nurmagomedov said.

    Dvalishvili was vocal in expressing displeasure at having to face Nurmagomedov for his first defense. “The Machine” branded the Russian undeserving of the shot and pitched numerous other opponents.

    Nevertheless, the titleholder has remained confident of getting the job done and emerging from the heated rivalry with the gold still in his possession.

  • Former UFC Champ Sees Weakness In Jiří Procházka, Backs Jamahal Hill For UFC 311 Fight

    Former UFC Champ Sees Weakness In Jiří Procházka, Backs Jamahal Hill For UFC 311 Fight

    Jiří Procházka doesn’t have what it takes to defeat Jamahal Hill in their upcoming bout, claims a former UFC middleweight champion.

    Procházka and Hill are set to collide in a crucial matchup on the main card of UFC 311, scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    Both former UFC light heavyweight champions are coming off crushing knockout losses to reigning divisional kingpin Alex Pereira in their most recent Octagon appearances. In fact, “Denisa” experienced his first UFC defeat at the hands of Pereira when they fought for the then-vacant 205-pound title at UFC 295 in November 2023.

    Procházka’s unorthodox fighting style has made it difficult for his past opponents to decipher, but Luke Rockhold believes that this very uniqueness also exposes significant vulnerabilities — especially when facing someone like Hill.

    During a recent appearance on the JAXXON PODCAST, Rockhold lambasted Procházka’s tactics in his rematch against “Poatan” this past June, asserting that the Czech fighter lacked any coherent strategy in the bout.

    “I didn’t like the way that Jiří fought his last time out versus Pereira,” Rockhold said. “He just didn’t look like he would follow the game plan. Like, what were you doing? I don’t know. To think you could stand with him and play this karate style, Kung Fu game. You can’t fight like that, a guy that he’s so dangerous, you can’t fight with your hands down and you got to go for takedowns. You identified his weakness, but you didn’t even try to exploit it.”

    The former UFC middleweight champion went on to assert that “Sweet Dreams” holds a distinct tactical advantage over Procházka and is more than capable of getting the job done at UFC 311.

    “Jamahal Hill’s more dangerous. He’s got pop, he’s got power, he goes for the kill and Jamahal’s got funky — he’s weirdly athletic sometimes. He’s hard to take down. You’ve seen in the Glover [Teixeira] fight, he was able to get up and get his way and funks his way through a lot of things and he ends up finding his shot, the kill shot. But, like I said, this is a rebuilding process for both of them and you don’t know, but I don’t know. I might favor Jamahal in this one.”

  • Chris Curtis Accuses UFC Vegas 101 Opponent Of Underhanded Tactics: ‘Couple Weeks Ago, 2 Russians Show Up…’

    Chris Curtis Accuses UFC Vegas 101 Opponent Of Underhanded Tactics: ‘Couple Weeks Ago, 2 Russians Show Up…’

    It seems that Roman Kopylov is doing everything he can to gain an advantage over Chris Curtis ahead of their middleweight clash at UFC Vegas 101 next month.

    MMA’s leading promotion will kick off its schedule for 2025 with a UFC Fight Night at the Apex in Las Vegas on Jan. 11, where Kopylov and Curtis make up one of the undercard matchups.

    Both men will no doubt be keen to start the new year on the front foot with a victory, but the Russian appears to have gone to extreme lengths to boost his chances.

    Curtis recently accused his rival of planting spies in his camp, writing on his Instagram Stories that two Russian fighters joined Xtreme Couture before leaving and linking up with Kopylov upon his arrival in “Sin City.”

    “Couple weeks ago, 2 Russians show up looking to be part of the team,” Curtis wrote. “After 2 weeks they vanish as soon as Kopylov comes to town and are now training together. Scumbag move Kopylov.”

    Whether or not the pair’s insight into Curtis’ preparation will aid Kopylov remains to be seen.

    But the incident will likely add some extra heat to this bout, which is among those setting the stage for the main event rematch between strawweight contenders Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas.

  • Jiří Procházka Shrugs Off Jamahal Hill’s Trash Talk Ahead Of UFC 311: ‘My Actions Will Talk’

    Jiří Procházka Shrugs Off Jamahal Hill’s Trash Talk Ahead Of UFC 311: ‘My Actions Will Talk’

    Jiří Procházka doesn’t appear to be in the mood to entertain Jamahal Hill’s attempts at getting under his skin ahead of their upcoming bout.

    Procházka is gearing up for a high-stakes showdown with Hill at UFC 311, scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    Both Procházka and Hill are coming off devastating knockout defeats at the hands of reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira in their last Octagon appearances. Since their bout was booked, “Sweet Dreams” has made some bold comments about the Czech fighter’s style. Hill went so far as to compare their losses to Pereira, claiming that while he was caught accidentally at UFC 300, Procházka was “done bad” at UFC 303.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, “Denisa” mentioned that he’s aware of Hill badmouthing him but has no intention of responding in kind to the American’s antics.

    “I don’t care what he’s saying because it’s not just primarily about me, it just shows what what is in his head,” Procházka said. “Man, I don’t care about what other people say about me because when you know how this works, how to work the mental of the human body, so how people can speak about others and why they speak about others, especially when he don’t know me personally. He knows just my fighting style and in that, he’s totally out with his commentary.”

    Procházka went on to explain why he chooses not to engage in trash talk, stressing that he’s more than willing to settle the score with Hill once the Octagon gates closes.

    “So that’s why I don’t care about these trash talks because. Do you know how the true confident man, a real man [looks] like? He don’t know. He don’t need to say some sh*t about others, to speak about his strong sides and about the weaknesses in his opponent because he’s self-confident too much to not do that… I’m going there, I will show my best, and I will show that to all the world that I’m the best, and that’s all. My actions will talk.”

    Prior to his latest defeat to Pereira in a short-notice title fight this past June, Procházka secured a second-round finish over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 300.

    Meanwhile, Hill’s loss to “Poatan” marked his return to the Octagon after a memorable title win over Glover Teixeira at UFC 283 in January 2023. “Sweet Dreams” was forced to vacate his title in July 2023 due to an injury.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Denied UFC PI Access Due To Umar Nurmagomedov’s Presence: ‘This Guy Will Get What’s Coming To Him!’

    Merab Dvalishvili Denied UFC PI Access Due To Umar Nurmagomedov’s Presence: ‘This Guy Will Get What’s Coming To Him!’

    It seems the UFC is taking the growing feud between upcoming opponents Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov very seriously.

    Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov are set to collide at the first pay-per-view of the new year, with the pair marking one of two championship fights scheduled for UFC 311 on Jan. 18.

    Before Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan run it back for the lightweight gold in the main event, Inglewood’s Intuit Dome will play host to “The Machine’s” first defense of the bantamweight belt, which he captured at Sean O’Malley’s expense this past September.

    Much to his dismay, the Georgian is tasked with stalling the charge of the undefeated Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili has been vocal in dismissing the Dagestani’s title shot worthiness, and that topic has caused considerable animosity between the pair.

    And that looked likely to boil over both backstage and on stage at the UFC 311 press conference in Las Vegas earlier this month, after which the champ threatened to travel to Dagestan to slap Nurmagomedov for what he perceived as ‘disrespect’.

    But Dvalishvili evidently won’t need such travel to cross paths with his upcoming opponent, with the pair both currently training in “Sin City.”

    The UFC, however, is taking no chances.

    “It’s all good – this guy will get what is coming to him on January 18th,” Dvalishvili wrote in the caption of a video on X, during which the Georgian explained how he’d been turned away from the UFC Performance Institute due to Nurmagomedov’s presence inside.

    Regardless, the champ won’t have too much longer to wait before having the chance to lay hands on the unbeaten Russian inside the cage.

    While Dvalishvili is unhappy with the choice of opponent, and his teammate Aljamain Sterling has made his thoughts on the short-notice booking known, “The Machine” is still confident of blemishing Nurmagomedov’s record and cementing his grip on the bantamweight gold.

  • ‘Jamahal Can’t Handle This’ – Fans React To Jiří Procházka’s Latest Unique Training Video Ahead of UFC 311 Return

    ‘Jamahal Can’t Handle This’ – Fans React To Jiří Procházka’s Latest Unique Training Video Ahead of UFC 311 Return

    Jiří Procházka is turning heads with his unique training methods ahead of his next fight.

    Scheduled to face another former light heavyweight champion in Jamahal Hill at UFC 311, Procházka is looking to work his way back toward the gold after an already storied career.

    The Czech star captured the title at UFC 275 with a victory over Glover Teixeira during a remarkable 12-fight winning streak. However, he later vacated the belt without making a defense due to an injury. And lost the chance to regain the belt opposite Alex Pereira last year UFC 295.

    Procházka bounced back with a TKO win over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 300 this past April, only to lose again to Pereira via TKO at UFC 303 in a bid to reclaim the championship.

    Hill, Procházka’s upcoming opponent, is also coming off a KO loss to Pereira at UFC 300, where the light heavyweight title was at stake.

    Recently, “BJP” shared a training video on X showcasing his unconventional approach: walking on a treadmill while shadowboxing and practicing various striking techniques.

    The video quickly sparked fan reactions, with many chiming in to share their thoughts on his distinctive preparation.

    UFC 311 will take place on Jan. 18, 2025, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. A lightweight championship bout between current kingpin Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan is scheduled to headline the event.

  • Aljamain Sterling: It Wasn’t Right For UFC To Book Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov On Short Notice

    Aljamain Sterling: It Wasn’t Right For UFC To Book Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov On Short Notice

    Aljamain Sterling believes UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili is being rushed into defending his title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    Dvalishvili claimed the bantamweight belt in September at UFC 306 and had hoped to take some time off before his next fight. However, the UFC decided to book this title bout on short notice, sparking criticism from the Georgian’s friend and teammate Sterling, who feels the timeline is unfair.

    “This fight is being made on six weeks’ notice? Maybe six-and-a-half,” Sterling said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. “For a title fight? I understand having to do that if you’re a challenger, but as a champion, you shouldn’t be relegated to those types of stipulations. It’s just not right.”

    Sterling elaborated on the frustration of being in such a position.

    “It leaves a bad taste in your mouth, as in, ‘Why did I work so hard to get to this position, to call the shots — or some of the shots — and you’re not even getting a fair shake in it?’ Hopefully, we go out there — knock on wood — Merab does his thing, he takes [Nurmagomedov’s] 0, puts on a great performance, and we can move on from this to the next.”

    Sterling is no stranger to this situation.

    After defeating Henry Cejudo to retain the bantamweight title at UFC 288, he was forced to defend it just three months later against Sean O’Malley at UFC 292. “Funk Master” lost the fight via knockout, a result that still looms large in his mind as he defends Dvalishvili’s predicament.

  • Cory Sandhagen Hopes To See Dvalishvili ‘Get Served Up’ At UFC 311: ‘Merab’s Been Talking A Lot’

    Cory Sandhagen Hopes To See Dvalishvili ‘Get Served Up’ At UFC 311: ‘Merab’s Been Talking A Lot’

    UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen will be backing his most recent opponent when champion Merab Dvalishvili’s first title defense rolls around next month.

    Dvalishvili will put his 135-pound gold on the line four months on from his crowning, which came at the expense of Sean O’Malley inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere this past September.

    After much discourse regarding his next opponent, and in spite of his preference not to face the challenge of Umar Nurmagomedov, the Georgian will share the cage with the undefeated Dagestani at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18.

    If he’s to maintain his grip on the bantamweight belt and add a successful retention to his reign, “The Machine” must become the first to defeat Nurmagomedov — a feat that the highly regarded Sandhagen most recently failed to accomplish.

    During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Sandhagen assessed Dvalishvili’s chances of having his hand raised inside the Intuit Dome early next year.

    “The Sandman” was honest in stating that he simply doesn’t see a single path to victory for the current champ. And beyond just his prediction, Sandhagen is actually hoping to see Dvalishvili beaten given how the Georgian’s been talking in recent weeks and months.

    “I think that Umar will win. I just can’t see a path for Merab to win,” Sandhagen said. “I don’t think that he’s going to be able to strike with him, but I also don’t think he’ll be able to take him down and control him like he was able to do against O’Malley and against other guys. I don’t see a path to success for Merab.

    “I think Umar is going to defend those shots, keep it in the striking realm, and just kind of — Umar’s a sniper, man. People don’t realize just how fast that guy is and how his kicks come out of nowhere,” Sandhagen continued. “Fighting a guy like Merab will be a good opportunity for him to show off a little, and just because Merab’s been talking a lot of sh*t, I kinda want to watch Merab get served up a little bit.”

    After repeatedly dismissing Nurmagomedov’s title shot worthiness, Dvalishvili has cut a frustrated figure since the matchup was officially announced. He notably laid into the Dagestani during the on-sale press conference in Las Vegas earlier this month, later threatening to “slap” the challenger.

    The time for talking will soon be over, with the pair set to co-headline the very first numbered event of 2025.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Trains With The Only Man To Beat Islam Makhachev Ahead Of UFC 311

    Arman Tsarukyan Trains With The Only Man To Beat Islam Makhachev Ahead Of UFC 311

    Islam Makhachev is the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world today for a reason. The UFC lightweight champion was already a dominant grappler but with the improvements that he has shown in his all-round skillset in recent years, he’s the total package.

    However, unlike his long-time training partner and the former 155-pound king, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has had several tough fights and moments of serious adversity inside the Octagon. One of those difficult tests was against late notice replacement Arman Tsarukyan in 2019 where the Armenian was able to really push the man that many considered to be on his way to being a top contender.

    At UFC 311 in January, they will run it back for the lightweight gold in Los Angeles and in order to help him prepare, the challenger has brought in another man that caused Makhachev some serious problems. Through 27 pro fights, the current champion has only ever tasted defeat once.

    In his second fight with the promotion at UFC 192 in 2015, he was knocked out in the first round by Brazil’s Adriano Martins who at the time, had 22 more pro fights on his record. After Makhachev missed a big overhand left, Martins countered with his own and dropped the Russian with the referee immediately stepping in.

    Following back-to-back losses to Leonardo Santos and Kajan Johnson after this win, Martins was cut from the UFC, ending his run in the promotion with an overall record of 4-3. In March this year, he defeated Donovan Desmae to snap a run of six fights without a win that dated back to his final UFC fights.

    He’s now set to return to the cage later this month but before then, Tsarukyan looked to engage in a bit of mental warfare with his next opponent by sharing a gym photo of him and the only man to defeat Makhachev.

  • Renato Moicano Admits Disappointment At Beneil Dariush Matchup: ‘I Don’t Think It’s What I Deserve’

    Renato Moicano Admits Disappointment At Beneil Dariush Matchup: ‘I Don’t Think It’s What I Deserve’

    At UFC 311, Renato Moicano will look to earn the biggest win of his career by extending his current winning streak to five. “Money” has been on a great run of form since beating Brad Riddell in 2022, stopping Benoit Saint Denis in Paris last September to make a real dent in the lightweight rankings.

    On his return at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, he will face UFC veteran and 155-pound staple, Beneil Dariush. The #9-ranked contender may be coming off of back-to-back first round knockout losses but suffering setbacks to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan aren’t major red flags.

    This is especially true considering that his loss to Oliveira at UFC 289 broke his eight-fight winning streak which put him within reach of a title shot if he was able to get past “Do Bronx”. With Moicano being one spot behind him in the top 15, it seems that the Brazilian isn’t overjoyed about this particular matchup.

    Considering that he already has wins over two other ranked opponents, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see Moicano take on a much higher ranked contender next time out though that’s usually easier said than done when it comes to everything falling into place.

    Though he isn’t going to let it affect his preparations and mindset, he was very open and honest during his recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. Moicano often jokes about wanting easy money instead of tough opponents and clearly he considers Dariush someone that falls into the latter category.

    “Dariush, he’s a tough fighter. That is not what I was expecting and I don’t think it’s what I deserve, but who gives a f***. It’s a fight. Anything can happen and I don’t care who I’m fighting. I just have to be competitive and keep showing up.”

  • What’s Next After UFC 310? Full Confirmed UFC 311 Main Card For Los Angeles On Jan. 18

    What’s Next After UFC 310? Full Confirmed UFC 311 Main Card For Los Angeles On Jan. 18

    UFC 310 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 311 in Los Angeles.

    The promotion was in Las Vegas this past week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in “Sin City.” Of note were headline wins for Alexandre Pantoja and Shavkat Rakhmonov, as well as important victories for Bryce Mitchell, Dominick Reyes, and Movsar Evloev.

    While the aftermath of the Dec. 7 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the flyweight title picture to the lightweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 311, set for the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Jan. 18, reigning kingpin Islam Makhachev will open his account for the new year, once again in defense of his 155-pound gold. After following his crowning against Charles Oliveira with retentions opposite Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier, the Dagestani will next run it back with top contender Arman Tsarukyan.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili looks to defend his gold for the first time since winning it at the expense of Sean O’Malley. In his way of a continued reign will be the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Procházka, Moicano, de Ridder, Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 311

    Before Makhachev and Dvalishvili defend their belts, a number of other notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 311 card.

    That includes a pair of former light heavyweight champions in Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill. After falling to the renowned power of reigning kingpin Alex Pereira this year, both will be looking to bounce back and reinsert themselves into the title picture at 205 pounds.

    Prior to that, an important lightweight clash goes down. Fresh off a 3-0 run in 2024 and main event triumph over Benoît Saint Denis in Paris, Renato Moicano gets the chance to further climb the 155-pound ladder against veteran contender Beneil Dariush, who hasn’t competed since a knockout to Tsarukyan in December 2023.

    And opening the UFC 311 main card will be promotional newcomer Reinier de Ridder. The former two-division ONE championship titleholder debuted this past November in a grueling clash with Gerald Meerschaert at the Apex. If he’s to move to 2-0 in the Octagon, the Dutchman must add to the woes of Kevin Holland, who most recently fell to an injury TKO loss opposite Roman Dolidze.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over ranked light heavyweights Johnny Walker and Bogdan Guskov, as well as a top 10 heavyweight bout between Jailton Almeida and Serghei Spivac.

    See below for the full UFC 311 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
    • Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
    • Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
    • Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight)
    • Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
    • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
    • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
    • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
    • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
    • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
    • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
    • Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clay Carpenter (flyweight)
    Jiri Prochazka
    Image: Zuffa LLC/UFC
  • UFC 311 Press Conference Stream: Featuring Makhachev, Tsarukyan, Dvalishvili & Nurmagomedov

    UFC 311 Press Conference Stream: Featuring Makhachev, Tsarukyan, Dvalishvili & Nurmagomedov

    UFC 311 will kick off the promotion’s pay-per-view schedule for 2025, and MMA News has you covered with this week’s press conference.

    The MMA leader has business to attend to in Las Vegas on Saturday night before focus turns to next year’s opening numbered event, but Friday will see attention briefly on the Jan. 18 card in Los Angeles before the UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-ins.

    Appearing on stage with mic in hand will be the four UFC 311 headliners — Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan, Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov.

    See below for a live stream of the UFC 311 presser via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 6 PM ET.

    UFC 311, set to play out inside the Intuit Dome, will be headlined by Makhachev’s (26-1) fourth defense of the lightweight title. Since capturing it at the expense of Charles Oliveira in 2022, the Dagestani has turned away two challenges from featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski and one from Dustin Poirier.

    Makhachev could now be set for his toughest test to date as he runs it back with the charging Tsarukyan (22-3). The Russian-Armenian secured his first shot at gold with a victory over Oliveira at UFC 300 this past April. And given how competitive his 2019 fight with the champ was, he’s confident of being the one to start a new chapter at 155 pounds.

    There will also be title stakes in the co-main event, meanwhile, as Dvalishvili (18-4) puts his newly won bantamweight belt on the line for the first time. Four months on from unseating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 inside the Sphere, the Georgian is tasked with blemishing the perfect record of Nurmagomedov (18-0) if he’s to add a successful retention to his résumé.

    A number of other intriguing matchups are scheduled for the stacked card. The current fights expected to take place at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18 are as follows:

    • Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
    • Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
    • Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
    • Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
    • Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight)
    • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
    • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
    • Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clay Carpenter (flyweight)
    • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
    • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
    • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)
    • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
    • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
    • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
  • Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano Joins Stacked Lineup For UFC 311 In Los Angeles

    Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano Joins Stacked Lineup For UFC 311 In Los Angeles

    The lineup for the promotion’s first pay-per-view of 2025, UFC 311 in Los Angeles, continues to get stronger.

    The mixed martial arts will kick off its schedule of numbered events for the new year at the Intuit Dome, where two highly anticipated championship fights and a host of intriguing matchups will go down.

    And not long after Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan and Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov were announced as the two headliners, the card has deepened even further.

    Joining the undercard bouts set to play out at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 is a ranked lightweight clash between veteran Beneil Dariush (22-6-1) and the charging Renato Moicano (20-5-1). The fight was announced by the UFC on social media.

    For Dariush, UFC 311 will mark his return after sitting out the entirety of 2024 following consecutive knockout losses to Charles Oliveira and Tsarukyan in the year prior. Before those setbacks, the 35-year-old had won eight straight to move to within touching distance of a first title shot.

    Moicano, meanwhile, is on the opposite trajectory having won four on the bounce since a decision loss to Rafael dos Anjos in March 2022. After an injury kept him out for over a year post-submission victory over Brad Riddell, the Brazilian has reeled off three triumphs in 2024, most recently battering Benoît Saint Denis in the UFC Paris main event this past September.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18 are as follows:

    • Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
    • Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
    • Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
    • Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
    • Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight)
    • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
    • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
    • Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clay Carpenter (flyweight)
    • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
    • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
    • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)
    • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
    • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
    • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
  • Anthony Smith: Jiří Procházka In For ‘A Bad Night’ vs. Jamahal Hill At UFC 311

    Anthony Smith: Jiří Procházka In For ‘A Bad Night’ vs. Jamahal Hill At UFC 311

    Anthony Smith has developed a close friendship with Jamahal Hill and is openly rooting for him as Hill prepares to take on another former UFC light heavyweight champion in Jiří Procházka at UFC 311 on Jan. 18.

    Meanwhile, Smith has his own battle to focus on this Saturday at UFC 310, where he faces Dominick Reyes. Assessing the upcoming Procházka-Hill clash during media day, Smith acknowledged the challenges posed by the Czech star’s unorthodox fighting style but remains confident that Hill will secure a knockout victory.

    Hill is coming off a strong run in the division, having put together a four-fight winning streak with three TKOs against Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker, and Thiago Santos, followed by a decision victory over Glover Teixeira at UFC 283 to claim the title. However, he lost the belt to Alex Pereira via KO at UFC 300 this past April.

    Procházka, heading into this fight, holds a 1-2 record in his last three bouts. Both losses came against Pereira via TKO — first for the vacant title at UFC 295 and again for the belt at UFC 303. His lone win during this stretch was a TKO victory over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 300.

    Smith shared his thoughts on the matchup during UFC 310 media day.

    “Jiří is such a pain in the ass. He’s just got such a unique style and fights so free,” Smith said. “But anybody that’s as hittable as Jiří standing in front of Jamahal is going to have a bad night. That’s not just because Jamahal’s my friend — the power that guy carries is different. His ability to find shots is different, and you’re not going to have to work too hard to find Jiří’s head.”

  • Jiří Procházka Gives Latest Update On Postponed Middleweight Plans

    Jiří Procházka Gives Latest Update On Postponed Middleweight Plans

    Jiří Procházka has recently spoken about a potential move to middleweight in the future which caught a lot of fans by surprise given his size. The former light heavyweight champion is still one of the top contenders at 205-pounds with his only losses in the UFC coming to Alex Pereira.

    With his next outing being confirmed for UFC 311 in January where he will face Jamahal Hill in a clash of former titleholders that has been a long time coming, it looks like 185-pounds is on the backburner for now. Given the amount of contenders that are currently at middleweight, it only makes sense for him to continue campaigning in his natural weight class.

    In a recent interview with James Lynch for Sportskeeda, Procházka spoke about his future at the weight class below and why he has chosen to stay at light heavyweight for the time being. He says that he wanted to make a significant change following his loss to “Poatan” at UFC 303 but he has found ways to do that which don’t mean that he has to leave the division entirely.

    Ahead of his return to take on “Sweet Dreams”, he believes that he still has unfinished business to attend to at 205 before he thinks about cutting a bit more weight.

    “I thought about that a lot but it was like decision to change something, to make a big change because I know my body is working really, really well when I don’t eat a lot so I’m keeping that but still. I’ve got the power, I got the strength and I have the endurance and all the abilities and everything to beat the guys in the light heavyweight so for me, this is the best. Maybe I will jump to the middleweight, maybe or I will jump to middleweight, but first, I said to myself I want to win the light heavyweight title. That’s all what’s on my mind right now and win the next fight especially.”

  • Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2, Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov Official For UFC 311

    Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2, Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov Official For UFC 311

    The mixed martial arts leader is set to open its pay-per-view schedule for 2025 in style, having confirmed championship defenses for both Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili for UFC 311.

    Octagon action will head to Los Angeles for the first numbered event of the new year, with the new Intuit Dome playing host to a lineup that already looks likely to be among the most stacked across the next 12 months.

    And following additions like Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill and Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland, as well as returns for Jailton Almeida and Johnny Walker, a pair of blockbuster headliners are now official.

    UFC CEO Dana White took to social media this week to confirm that the long-rumored rematch between Makhachev (26-1) and Arman Tsarukyan (22-3) for the lightweight gold will indeed headline the event on Jan. 18.

    And despite his callout of other contenders, bantamweight king Dvalishvili (18-4) will put his belt on the line against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0), who looks to set the stage for his stablemate’s defense in the final fight of the night by adding to the team’s trophy cabinet.

    Makhachev has recorded three defenses since defeating Charles Oliveira to achieve champ status. After back-to-back wins over Alexander Volkanovski in 2023, the Dagestani most recently turned back the challenge of Dustin Poirier. Makhachev is now set to run it back with a charging contender whom he narrowly outpointed back in 2019. Tsarukyan enters his first title shot riding momentum from a triumph over Oliveira at UFC 300.

    Dvalishvili, meanwhile, will be making his first defense at UFC 311, five months on from his victory over Sean O’Malley at the Sphere. That result extended his winning run to 11 straight fights and followed success opposite former champions Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo. Nurmagomedov, on the other hand, is yet to taste defeat inside the cage. The Russian most recently staked his claim for a championship opportunity by getting the better of the highly regarded Cory Sandhagen across five rounds in Abu Dhabi.

    With these additions, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18 are as follows:

    • Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
    • Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
    • Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
    • Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
    • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
    • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
    • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
    • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
    • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)
    • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
    • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
    • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
  • Jamahal Hill Debates Who Got KO’d Worse By Alex Pereira With Jiří Procházka: ‘You Got Dominated…I Got Caught!’

    Jamahal Hill Debates Who Got KO’d Worse By Alex Pereira With Jiří Procházka: ‘You Got Dominated…I Got Caught!’

    The hype for one of UFC 311’s most anticipated bouts is underway, as former light heavyweight champions Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka traded barbs over who had it worse in their unsuccessful attempts to reclaim the gold earlier this year.

    Both Hill and Procházka never lost the championship inside the Octagon. They also challenged Alex Pereira earlier this year in attempts to claim the gold but were easily disposed of.

    “Sweet Dreams” challenged Pereira at UFC 300, getting dropped and finished in the very first round. “BJP,” meanwhile, was rocked and dropped at the end of the first round in his UFC 303 rematch with “Poatan” before being finished seconds into the second frame.

    Procházka recently brought about his criticism of Hill’s fighting style, putting his fighting IQ into question. Hill responded through a YouTube video, taking shots at several of his light heavyweight counterparts, including a response to his upcoming Czech opponent.

    Jamahal Hill vs. Jiří Procházka: Who Got KO’d Worse By Alex Pereira?

    “We had the same opponent in our last fight, right? In your last performance, you got dominated and knocked out,” Hill said. “You got dominated, and I got caught. There’s a huge difference. You’ve even got your ponytail leaning to the left. I hope you wear that ponytail in our fight so I can lean it back to the right for you.

    “We can compare every performance — while I put on dominant performances, you just survive and scrape by with a win. We’re not the same.”

    Procházka won the light heavyweight championship with a submission of Glover Teixeira at UFC 275. However, he vacated the title by the end of 2022 without making a defense due to an injury.

    Hill went on to capture the belt with his own victory over Teixeira at UFC 283. Hill, however, was forced to vacate the title, too, after his own injury. That allowed for the initial fight between Pereira and Procházka that headlined UFC 295, with the Brazilian finishing “BJP” there as well.

  • Jiří Procházka Takes Aim At UFC 311 Opponent Jamahal Hill: ‘In Your last Fight…’

    Jiří Procházka Takes Aim At UFC 311 Opponent Jamahal Hill: ‘In Your last Fight…’

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka hasn’t forgotten some past remarks from upcoming opponent Jamahal Hill.

    Procházka announced his return to action last week, taking to social media to reveal a clash with fellow former titleholder Hill for the year-opening UFC 311 pay-per-view in Los Angeles.

    The bout will mark both men’s first appearances since respective knockout losses to reigning 205-pound kingpin Alex Pereira. While “Sweet Dreams” was stopped in one round at UFC 300, “BJP” narrowly made it to a second frame at UFC 303 before being violently stopped by “Poatan” for a second time.

    Despite his own setback to the Brazilian, Hill had plenty to say about Procházka’s loss during International Fight Week. And the Czech star evidently still has that on his mind…

    “I’m really looking forward for my next fight,” Procházka said in a recent video posted on X. “Jamahal, don’t speak about my performances, fight IQ, and all these things, because in your last fight, you didn’t show (anything), really.”

    And it wasn’t just Hill who found himself in the firing line.

    Procházka also sent shots the way of Magomed Ankalaev, who is expected to be next in line for a shot at Pereira’s gold after defending his spot on the ladder opposite Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 last month.

    “This same guy, Ankalaev, in your last three fights, you showed totally nothing, so stay on the ground,” Procházka said.

    Ankalaev is yet to face either Procházka or Hill. Regardless of the result of his expected challenge against Pereira, a showdown with one of the two could await him soon after, whether as defending champion or contender working his way back to the gold.

  • Reinier de Ridder Gets Second Fight vs. Kevin Holland At UFC 311 On Jan. 18

    Reinier de Ridder Gets Second Fight vs. Kevin Holland At UFC 311 On Jan. 18

    Fresh off his successful Octagon debut, former two-division ONE champion Reinier de Ridder has his next assignment in the calendar for UFC 311.

    After parting ways with ONE Championship earlier this year and subsequently returning to winning ways under the UAE Warriors banner, de Ridder (18-2) had his lifelong ambition of a venture to the UFC come to fruition.

    The Dutchman made his first appearance on the UFC Vegas 100 card at the Apex earlier this month, sharing the cage with middleweight veteran Gerald Meerschaert. While de Ridder faced some adversity in the opening two rounds, he ultimately added to his submission tally with a third-round arm-triangle choke.

    And it’s not taken long for a new target to be placed in “The Dutch Knight’s” crosshairs. Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, de Ridder will return at UFC 311 inside Los Angeles’ newly built Intuit Dome to do battle with the always entertaining Kevin Holland (26-12, 1 NC).

    “Trailblazer,” a formerly ranked contender at both 185 and 170 pounds, has gone 1-1 since returning to middleweight this year off the back of a defeat to Michael “Venom” Page.

    After landing a gruesome armbar submission to defeat Michał Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302 this past June, Holland most recently saw a difficult start opposite Roman Dolidze compounded by a rib injury that left him unable to continue into round two at UFC 307 last month.

    With this addition the current fights expected to take place at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 are as follows:

    • Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
    • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
    • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
    • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
    • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
    • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)
    • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
    • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
    • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
  • Jamahal Hill Looks Forward To Jiří Procházka Clash: ‘It’s Been A Long Time Coming’

    Jamahal Hill Looks Forward To Jiří Procházka Clash: ‘It’s Been A Long Time Coming’

    A clash between two former UFC light heavyweight champions was recently announced during the post-fight show following the Fight Night event in Macau. After the fact that Jamahal Hill will be facing Jiří Procházka at UFC 311 was seemingly accidently said on the broadcast, it was later reported all over social media.

    With Magomed Ankalaev finally being in position to face Alex Pereira for the title, that leaves the #2 and #3-ranked contenders in the division free to settle a score that has existed for a long time. On January 18 in California, Hill and Procházka will finally put this chapter of their careers behind them.

    When Hill defeated Glover Teixeira to become champion, it was because Procházka had vacated the title due to a significant injury. With Hill defending his title against the returning champion set to be the next fight, the same pattern repeated itself with “Sweet Dreams” giving the title up which was then won by Alex Pereira at UFC 295 last November.

    Since then, “Poatan” has finished both men in consecutive fights meaning that a long-awaited match-up between them makes total sense for the division right now. With the news coming out sooner that expected, Hill did not confirm in his recent interview with Inside Fighting that this would be his next fight though he has teased it multiple times.

    “Yeah we should, there’s gonna be an announcement soon. It’s gonna be announced soon, it’s a good one, it’s a good one.”

    When Hill was asked whether he could provide any hints as to which fight it might be, he said that this contest is long overdue which essentially gives the game away without saying the name of his next opponent.

    “It’s been a long time, it’s been a long time coming.”

    Hill was then asked whether the fight he’s signed for is the one that all the fans expect it to be and though the former champion didn’t want to sign off on this, he made it pretty clear that it’s a big, highly anticipated bout.

    “I don’t know which fight y’all think it’s going to be but I know y’all won’t be disappointed by it.”

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Fights Added To Los Angeles-Held UFC 311

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming 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, November 18, and Sunday, November 24, a number of notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

    Plenty of lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with two fights falling through or being adjusted. For those, see below: