UFC 311 Announcement: Dana White Confirms Two Major Title Bouts for Los Angeles Event
UFC boss Dana White set the stage late Wednesday, announcing the main and co-main event matches for UFC 311 in LA via socials. Both bouts are title clashes.
As anticipated for over a month, UFC lightweight champ and top-ranked fighter Islam Makhachev will protect his crown against Arman Tsarukyan in a rematch.
Makhachev bested Tsarukyan in April 2019 via unanimous decision, clinching Fight of the Night. Post-loss, Tsarukyan has enjoyed an astounding streak, going 9-1 with notable victories over Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira in his last pair of bouts.
His recent successes earned Tsarukyan a pair of Performance of the Night bonuses, highlighting his speedy climb towards the top contenders list.
Moreover, Makhachev seized the lightweight title and remained undefeated in nine bouts, bagging victories against prominent fighters within the weight class.
This rematch has all the ingredients for a thrilling showdown.
The co-main event will feature bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili defending his title against Umar Nurmagomedov, igniting a long-standing rivalry. The feud began when Dvalishvili dethroned Sean O'Malley in September at Noche UFC.
Nurmagomedov and his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, have been roasting Dvalishvili for weeks, and their time to challenge for the title is finally here. Nurmagomedov may be the only bantamweight fighter capable of matching Dvalishvili's relentless wrestling - or so we think.
With an unblemished 18-0 record, Nurmagomedov boasts seven submission wins, showcasing his lethal grappling skills.
The world of MMA will keep its eyes glued to LA to witness the two victors exiting the City of Angels as champs. The remaining matches are still under discussion, but here's the current lineup, according to Tapology.
UFC 311 Fight Card
Date: January 18, 2025
Venue: Intuit Dome, Los Angeles, California
The Intuit Dome will host its first UFC match, adding a layer of excitement to the West Coast spectacle. Expect a tiny TKO Holdings takeover at the new LA venue.
On January 6, WWE's Monday Night Raw will stream live on Netflix from the Intuit Dome, marking the show's initial episode in LA.
The following stacked fight card combines stars and emerging talent:
(c) Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan
Weight Class: Lightweight (155 lbs)
(c) Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
Weight Class: Bantamweight (135 lbs)
Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac
Weight Class: Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill
Weight Class: Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)
Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder
Weight Class: Middleweight (185 lbs)
Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafurov
Weight Class: Bantamweight (135 lbs)
Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov
Weight Class: Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)
Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez
Weight Class: Women's Bantamweight (135 lbs)
Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas
Weight Class: Middleweight (185 lbs)
Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos
Weight Class: Bantamweight (135 lbs)
Ricky Turcios vs. Bernardo Sopaj
Weight Class: Bantamweight (135 lbs)
Grant Dawson vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira
Weight Class: Lightweight (155 lbs)
Dana White announced that UFC 311 will take place in LA, with Islam Makhachev defending his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan in a rematch as the main event. The co-main event features bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili versus Umar Nurmagomedov, igniting a long-standing rivalry between the two.
Fans are eager to see the rematch between Makhachev and Tsarukyan, with the former proving victorious in their first encounter in 2019. Tsarukyan has since enjoyed success, including two Performance of the Night bonuses.
UFC 311's fight card includes a title defense by Merab Dvalishvili, who dethroned Sean O'Malley in September, and a rematch against Umar Nurmagomedov, who has been roasting Dvalishvili for weeks. Nurmagomedov, with an unblemished record, boasts seven submission wins, showcasing his grappling skills.
UFC news fanatics should keep an eye on the event, as it's set to take place on January 18, 2025, at the Intuit Dome, Los Angeles. The card features various title fights and undefeated fighters, making it an exciting event for MMA enthusiasts.
