
UFC 311 delivered a night of thrilling fights and standout performances at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on January 18, 2025. The event, which featured high-stakes bouts across multiple weight classes, showcased dominant champions and rising contenders alike.
The main event saw lightweight champion Islam Makhachev put on a commanding performance against Renato Moicano. Makhachev wasted no time, securing a first-round submission victory via D’Arce choke at 4:05. This marked Makhachev’s fourth successful title defense and further solidified his position as one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history.
Reflecting on his forth successful defense of his belt, Makhachev said “I like this belt. If somebody wants this belt, come to the cage. I’m not just talk. All fight week, all my camp, all media, if my opponent gives me a small chance, I will close the night,” as reported by the BBC.
In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili faced off against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili triumphed with a unanimous decision victory, earning scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46. The win not only extended his title reign but also allowed Dvalishvili to break Georges St-Pierre’s long-standing record for most takedowns in UFC history, bringing his total to an impressive 91. “I am the machine,” Dvalishvili said, “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 harder worker. The whole world was against me,” as reported by the BBC.
The light heavyweight bout between Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill was another highlight of the evening. Procházka secured a technical knockout in the third round after delivering relentless offense that left the crowd and commentators stunned. Joe Rogan described the fight as “chaos,” underscoring the intensity of the contest. Following his victory, Procházka expressed interest in a potential trilogy fight with reigning UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira, as reported by ESPN.
In a notable middleweight clash, Reinier de Ridder earned a first-round submission victory over Kevin Holland. De Ridder’s rear-naked choke at 3:31 marked his second consecutive UFC win and demonstrated his elite grappling skills.
The preliminary card also delivered exciting moments. Raoni Barcelos defeated Payton Talbott via unanimous decision in a highly technical fight. Azamat Bekoev showcased his power with a first-round knockout of Zachary Reese, while Bogdan Guskov claimed a second-round submission victory over Billy Elekana with a guillotine choke.
UFC 311 highlighted the dominance of its champions and the emergence of key contenders across divisions. With thrilling performances and decisive outcomes, the event set the stage for an exciting year ahead in the UFC. Fans now eagerly anticipate the implications of these fights for future matchups in 2025.