UFC 311 Results: Islam Makachev And Merab Dvalishvili Retain Titles in Double-Header Championship Headliner

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship opened 2025 numbered event with two champions making successful title defences in the headliner of UFC 311: Makachev vs. Moicano pay-per-view at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Californiaon Saturday (January 18).

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev wasted no time submitting late notice challenger Renato Moicano, showing why he's such a dominant force with a fast win by first-round tap-out in the main event.

Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili kept a hold of his bantamweight belt in a brilliant and furious fight with Umar Nurmagomedov, proving he's one of the best bantamweights to ever do it in the co-main event of the evening.

The first numbered event of 2024 witnessed 6 of 14 fights end in either submission or stoppages as the co-main eventers and two more fighters took home bonuses worth USD50K. Here is a look at the awards followed by recap from UFC 311:

UFC 311 Awards

• Fight of the Night: Merab Dvalishvili vs Umar Nurmagomedov
• Performance of the Night: Jiri Prochazka
• Performance of the Night: Jailton Almeida

UFC 311 Recap

When UFC lightweight champ Makhachev took on last minute stand-in Moicano, he knew exactly what were his keys to victory in the main event. Makhachev shot for the double leg and chain-wrestled his way to the submission position.

Winding around Moicano's head, Makhachev latched on to get the d'arce choke tap out in the first round to extend his unbeaten streak to 15 and in the process retained his lightweight champion.

After the title defence, Makhachev said, "I'm always looking for the finish. I told you guys. Give me some motion and I will close the night. For me, no matter who can make 155 (pounds), just step to the cage and stay in front of me. I like this belt. If somebody wants this belt, come to the cage."

In the co-main event, UFC bantamweight cham Dvalishvili took on the No. 2 ranked Nurmagomedov in a brilliant bout already in the running for Fight of the Year. Lightning fast back and forth action punctuated by rapid fire striking and slick clinch work kicked off the title bout.

Nurmagomedov edged ahead with power in his strikes through the first two rounds and the champion came back with a strong third and dictated the pace in the fourth. Dvalishvili ran away with the fight in the final round, and ended up beating GSP for the most takedowns ever in UFC.

And Still bantamweight champion Dvalishvili said, "Thank you everyone who came here to support me, especially all the Georgians. I am 'The Machine', but when I took this fight, it was on six weeks' notice, and I was injured.

"But I know that UFC needs me. UFC give me everything. Umar is a tough fighter, and he's good, but he called me old. Yes, I'm old, but I'm working every day. I'm a hard worker. Please don't let anyone bully you, underestimate you. Believe yourself and everything is possible. I'm so proud of myself. (If) I retired today, I can die happy."

Also on the main card, former UFC champs Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill went toe-to-toe with a vengeance, and Prochazka was the warrior to get the knockdown and victory in the third round by TKO.

Plus, former ONE World Champion Reinier de Ridder proved he's brought a high level skillset to UFC by craftily submitting Kevin Holland in the main card opener before Jailton Almeida stopped Serghei Spivac in the first round of a heavyweight bout.

Earlier on the preliminary card, Raoni Barcelos and Grant Dawson scored decision wins, while Azamat Bekoev stopped Zachary Reese after Bogdan Guskov choked out Billy Elekana for a submission win.

In the early preliminary card, Ailin Perez, Muin Gafurov, Benardo Sopaj and Tagir Ulanbekov earned decision wins in their respective bouts. Here is a look at the final results from UFC 311:

UFC 311 Results

Main Card

• Lightweight World Championship Bout: Islam Makhachev defeated Renato Moicano by submission (D’Arce choke) at 4:05 of Round 1
• Bantamweight World Championship Bout: Merab Dvalishvili defeated Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
• Light Heavyweight Bout: Jiri Prochazka defeated Jamahal Hill by TKO (strikes) at 3:01 of Round 3
• Heavyweight Bout: Jailton Almeida defeated Serghei Spivac by TKO (strikes) at 4:53 of Round 1
• Middleweight Bout: Reinier de Ridder defeated Kevin Holland by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:31 of Round 1

Preliminary Card

• Bantamweight Bout: Raoni Barcelos defeated Payton Talbott by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
• Middleweight Bout: Azamat Bekoev defeated Zachary Reese by KO (strikes) at 3:04 of Round 1
• Light Heavyweight Bout: Bogdan Guskov defeated Billy Elekana by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:33 of Round 2
• Lightweight Bout: Grant Dawson defeated Diego Ferreira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Early Preliminary Card

• Women's Bantamweight Bout: Ailin Perez defeated Karol Rosa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Bantamweight Bout: Muin Gafurov defeated Rinya Nakamura by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Bantamweight Bout: Benardo Sopaj defeated Ricky Turcios by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Flyweight Bout: Tagir Ulanbekov defeated Clayton Carpenter by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)