UFC champs Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili went 2-0 on the night. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili capped off 2025's first UFC pay-per-view by defending their belts in drastically different ways at UFC 311.
In a routine display of his dominance over the sport, Makhachev (27-1) made history with a first-round D'arce choke submission of Renato Moicano (20-6-1) in the night's main event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, becoming the first UFC lightweight champion to ever defend the 155-pound title four consecutive times.
In the co-main event, Dvalishvili (19-4) continued to etch his name in the record books as well, extending the longest win streak in UFC bantamweight division history (11) with a come-from-behind win over the previously unbeaten teammate of Makhachev, Umar Nurmagomedov (18-1). Dvalishvili also broke the record for most takedowns in UFC history, previously held by MMA legend Georges St-Pierre.
Dvalishvili was more than a 2-to-1 betting underdog coming into the bout and was behind on two scorecards after the opening two rounds, but ultimately outworked and outlasted Nurmagomedov to notch his first successful defense of the bantamweight belt.
UFC lightweight title fight: (C) Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano - Round 1
Moicano presses right away with a low kick then up high, the latter misses. A hard inside low kick for Moicano. Makhachev rushes forward with a 1-2. Herb Dean issues Moicano a warning for extending his fingers. You never see that anymore. Good call. Hard body kick lands for Makhachev. Stinging left-hand connects for the champ. Whoa! Makhachev slips, but the wrong angle could have made that look bad. Makhachev seeks the single-leg takedown and gets it. He works from half guard. Moicano tries to push off, giving Makhachev an opening for a d'arce choke. That's it! Moicano taps, and Makhachev makes history with a fourth lightweight title defense.
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Main event ends with a first round submission for the champ
Incredible fight. You almost never get two momentums colliding like that. But as Merab’s coach John Wood said to me before this week, “if Umar doesn’t finish it in the first two rounds, he’s fucked…”
UFC bantamweight title fight: (C) Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov - Round 5
Dvalishvili goes for a shot a minute in to no avail. And again. And again! Dvalishvili is just making Nurmagomedov think. Nice left straight gets through for the challenger before another takedown attempt. Nurmagomedov defends and they break. Nurmagomedov lands a good body kick before a shot of his own that's sprawled on. Big left hand from Nurmagomedov. Back-to-back body kicks from the challenger. Dvalishvili shoots for another single and fails. Left hook and body kick from Umar. A stinging left-hand lands for the challenger. Merab lands a big right hand! He dumps Umar with a brief single-leg then goes for another as they scramble. Merab showboats with Umar hanging on and the fight comes to an end. Crazy, high-level title tilt.
UFC bantamweight title fight: (C) Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov - Round 4
Dvalishvili pushes forward for an early takedown and eats a 1-2 in return. The right starts to find a home on the champion. Another single-leg takedown from Dvalishvili lands as Nurmagomedov gets up quickly. Dvalishvili shoots in on a double-leg takedown against the cage. He locks the leg temporarily, as Nurmagomedov works back to his feet. Head kick get through to graze Dvalishvili. A big body hook connects from Dvalishvili. Right hand over the top lands for Nurmagomedov. The champion returns with one of his own. Dvalishvili hits a quick single-leg. Dvalishvili starts to hunt down the challenger against the cage, pummeling to the body with punches and kicks. Nurmagomedov is fading. Big two-punch combo from the champion. Dvalishvili goes for a takedown against the cage and gets it. This man is relentless. Nurmagomedov stands as the bell sounds. It comes down to this, folks.
10-9 Dvalishvili (38-38)
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2-2 heading into the 5th. Big comeback for Merab. Umar looks tired.
UFC bantamweight title fight: (C) Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov - Round 3
Dvalishvili looks for leg kicks early on before punching his way in on a takedown attempt. Nurmagomedov defends and works his jab. A nice two-punch combo from the champion finds a home. Kick to the body from Nurmagomedov as he wings left hooks to counter Dvalishvili's aggression. Hard low kick lands for Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov shoots on a takedown that's easily stuffed. Dvalishvili lands a quick one just to sit his opponent down. Dvalishvili rushes in for a nice double-leg takedown, but the momentum allows Nurmagomedov to roll over and take position on the champion against the cage. Right-hand sneaks over the top for Nurmagomedov, then a low kick and single-leg attempt. Nurmagomedov gets to the back, dragging the champion down for a moment. Round ends with momentum shifting.
UFC bantamweight title fight: (C) Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov - Round 2
Nurmagomedov strikes with a heavy left hook before an onslaught of punches when Dvalishvili shoots in. Another big two-punch combination connects on the champion. Dvalishvili is starting to get more recklessly aggressive. Dvalishvili finds a moment for a single-leg takedown that gets defended, Nurmagomedov circles, dragging his opponent to the ground against the cage. He works from the back. Dvalishvili patiently waits and spins out and they're back on their feet. Dvalishvili lands a big overhand right on the takedown fake. A knee sneaks through up the middle on Dvalishvili. Nurmagomedov touches with a very nice inside low kick. Dvalishvili starts to unload punches while pressing Nurmagomedov into the cage. They battle for underhooks, trading knees. They separate. A pair of right hands get through for the challenger. A wild exchange closes out the second round.
10-9 Nurmagomedov (20-18 Nurmagomedov)
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Merab’s way more in this than the commentary suggests.
UFC bantamweight title fight: (C) Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov - Round 1
Here. We Go. No strikes for the first 45 seconds as they keep their distance. Nurmagomedov throws out a kick before Dvalishvili lands a low kick. Nice 1-2 connects for Nurmagomedov. They engage in their first grappling exchange, very briefly before separating. Dvalishvili lands a good right hand and then eats a left hand in return. Dvalishvili pushes forward, finding his range and looking to strike. They tie up and Dvalishvili punches on the quick exit. A good jab from Nurmagomedov. The challenger pursues a single-leg takedown but fails. Nurmagomedov shoots in on a takedown against the cage. The champion stuffs it. A left straight gets through for Nurmagomedov. A big right-hand cracks Dvalishvili! A very intriguing first round comes to an end.
10-9 Nurmagomedov
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Starting now
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Is this the first time we've had a matchup at the highest level between one of the Dagestani elites against a wrestler who should be on their level? Umar Nurmagomedov has one hell of a test for his shot at gold.
Hill starts working the body early. Massive left hand over the top staggers Hill! He chases Hill down landing punches, eating some in return. This is a car crash. Hill gets stung with a left hand again. Prochazka lands a front kick. Prochazka begins working the body more, landing a punch to the bread basket. Hard knee from Hill in the clinch. Right hook drops Hill on the counter! A bloodied Hill starts eating shots, an uppercut gets through, he pummels! That's it! Prochazka wins! What a fight!
Drake Riggs
Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill - Round 2
Prochazka starts to stab early with that front kick. A head kick grazes Hill before he rushes in and almost eats a flying knee. Eye poke from Prochazka halts the action, as he apologizes immediately. Action resumes and Prochazka goes back to the body with his kicks. Jab lands for Prochazka. An overhand right gets through for Hill and he lands a front kick of his own. Big uppercut from Hill. Head kick from Prochazka! A pair of punches land for the Czech, but an eye poke finds the "target" for Hill. Prochazka shouts in the doctor's face that he can see. Let's go! Back at it. Counter right lands for Hill as Prochazka teases some knees. Right hand for Hill connects. Several right hands land for Hill as he charges in. Prochazka fires one in return. Nice body hook for Hill gets through. He goes back to it. Hill keeps finding a knee on the break of their exchanges in the pocket. A good turnaround for "Sweet Dreams."
10-9 Hill (19-19)
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Prochazka x Hill entertaining as heck, as expected.
Prochazka dropped Hill briefly but Hill rebounded.
Prochazka starts with some oblique kick distance finders. Hard leg kick from Hill. Big left hand lands from Prochazka. Prochazka keeps teasing knees. Hill lands some rights then a knee of his own. Left hand for Prochazka lands. Inside leg kick from Prochazka. Prochazka tries to punch his way into the pocket while Hill glides away. Hard straight right for Prochazka followed by a big left plants Hill! Hill stands and fires back. Another big left for Prochazka lands then a knee to the body. Big left hand from Hill. Prochazka throws a head kick that whiffs and lands a light back fist. Overhand right connects for Hill! Prochazka is bulldozing his way forward. Prochazka jabs then stabs to the body with a front kick. Hill gets cracked with a heavy left straight right at the bell. It was a chaotic round one, as expected.
10-9 Prochazka
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Starting now
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Jamahal Hill the first fighter to come out to Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us' – that's how you win over the LA crowd 🎶 #UFC311pic.twitter.com/n3CmjXD4Me
Well, talk about some fun heavyweight graps! Almeida sweeps Spivac off late, and says, "I think there's been enough of that," cracking Spivac to take things back to the ground and pummel out a TKO win. Nicely done.
RESULT: Jailton Almeida def. Serghei Spivac by TKO (punches) at 4:53 of R1
Almeida hurts Spivac standing, takes him down and gets the TKO finish. He then proceeds to thank the Las Vegas crowd in his post-fight interview and is showered with boos. "He just got hit a lot," Rogan chimes in.
Spivac finds a nice jab after each throwing out some feeler shots. A brief exchange ties the two up, and Spivac hits a Whizzer trip takedown. Spivac works in guard. Almeida ties up the arms and slides in a butterfly. Massive elbows land for Spivac! Almeida looked dazed as more heavy shots followed. Spivac tries to maneuver his position and gets reversed, giving Almeida top control from half guard. Almeida gets to mount and starts landing punches. Spivac turns to give up his back. Almeida grabs wrist control, preventing the full escape and maintaining back control. Spivac patiently waits for an opening and reverses to get back in guard on top. Almeida hits a butterfly sweep to stand them up and bursts with massive punches to hurt Spivac. Big takedown right into mount for Almeida! Spivac is hurt, trying to defend. Almeida gets the back and flattens out Spivac, landing punches and finding the stoppage! Wild one-round affair and a big win for Almeida.
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Starting now
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Breaking news
Daniel Cormier & Chael Sonnen are the coaches for the 33rd season of The Ultimate Fighter, per the broadcast.
Craig Piligian, credited as co-creator of The Ultimate Fighter and executive producer, is the first inductee of the 2025 UFC HOF class, per the broadcast.
As promised, de Ridder scored a single-leg takedown immediately. Holland catches a near triangle and starts attacking from bottom. De Ridder takes his place on top in guard, nullifying the strikes better. Holland teases a leg lock before landing an up-kick and starting his vintage mid-fight trash talk. Nice elbow lands for de Ridder. Holland stays active with punches from bottom in guard. We have some blood on Holland from one of those elbows. De Ridder starts throwing some slow punches as Holland attempts to roll out, giving up his back as he stands. De Ridder applies the body triangle and seeks the rear-naked choke. Holland taps! Easy work for the former two-division ONE Championship titleholder.
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