UFC 311 kicks off 2025 with a thrilling lineup featuring Islam Makhachev defending his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan and Merab Dvalishvili facing Umar Nurmagomedov for the bantamweight title, amidst intense rivalries and a promising fight card.
UFC 311 is set to kick off the year with a bang! As we roll into 2025, the first pay-per-view event is headlined by none other than the Pound-for-Pound king, Islam Makhachev (26-1). He’ll be defending his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan (22-3), while Merab Dvalishvili (18-4) puts his bantamweight belt on the line against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0).
There’s no shortage of drama here. Both matchups are steeped in bad blood, and you can catch a glimpse of these intense rivalries in the newly released trailer below.
Let’s rewind a bit: Makhachev first faced Tsarukyan back in April 2019. It was Tsarukyan’s UFC debut on short notice. Fast forward, and Makhachev has been unstoppable, boasting three successful title defenses. Meanwhile, Tsarukyan has clawed his way back with nine wins out of his last ten fights. He’s hungry for redemption.
The feud between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov? It’s fresh but fiery. Dvalishvili hasn’t held back, publicly questioning Nurmagomedov’s right to a title shot. But those words didn’t sway the matchmakers—they see Nurmagomedov’s perfect 6-0 UFC record as worthy of a No. 1 contender spot.
Curious about the full UFC 311 lineup? Here’s what’s on deck:
Main Card
- Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan
- Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
- Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
- Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill
- Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder
Preliminary Card
- Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov
- Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos
- Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac
- Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas
- Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira
- Karol Rosa vs. Ailin Perez
- Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafurov
- Ricky Turcios vs. Bernardo Sopai
- Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clayton Carpenter
Mark your calendars—this is one card you won’t want to miss!