Inglewood, CA – January 18: Islam Makhachev (red) reacts after defeating Renato Moicano (blue) … [+] during their bout at UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on Saturday, January 18, 2024. Makhachev won the fight by first round submission. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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UFC 311 started with some ho-hum fights at the start of the night. The first pay-per-view of the year finished with an entertaining main card.
Here is a look at all of the results from the card, the bonus winners and and the eight biggest takeaways from UFC 311.
- (c) Islam Makhachev def. Renato Moicano via first-round submission (D’arce Choke)
- (c) Merab Dvalishvili def. Umar Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision (48-47×2, 49-46) – (FOTN)
- (POTN) Jiri Prochazka def. Jamahal Hill via third-round TKO
- (POTN) Jailton Almeida def. Serghei Spivac via first-round TKO
- Reinier de Ridder def. Kevin Holland via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
- Raoni Barcelos def. Payton Talbott via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27×2)
- Azamat Bekoev def. Zach Reese via first-round KO
- Bogdan Guskarov def. Billy Elekana via second-round submission (guillotine)
- Grant Dawson def. Diego Ferreira via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
- Ailin Perez def. Karol Rosa via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)
- Muin Gafarov def. Rinya Nakamura via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
- Bernardo Sopaj def. Ricky Turcios via unanimous decision (30-27,2, 29-28)
- Tagir Ulabekov def. Clayton Carpenter via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
UFC 311 Looked Amazing at the Intuit Dome
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 18: A general view of the Octagon during the UFC 311 event at Intuit … [+] Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
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The Intuit Dome might have leaped to the top of my list for venues to host UFC events. The backdrop at the Inglewood, California, arena looks stunning. The lights in the seats and overall environment play beautifully on television.
Longtime combat sports journalist Luke Thomas shared the same sentiment.
Islam Makhachev Makes Renato Moicano Look Like a No. 10
Inglewood, CA – January 18: Islam Makhachev (red) battles Renato Moicano (blue) during their bout at … [+] UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on Saturday, January 18, 2024. Makhachev won the fight by first round submission. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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In the main event, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev made quick work of No. 10-ranked Renato Moicano to successfully defend his title. Makhachev got the victory after he forced Moicano to submit with th champion’s signature D’arce choke.
Moicano stepped in on one-day’s notice to replace the injured Arman Tsarukyan and Makhachev made it clear, the Brazilian is not anywhere near his level. The only fight it still makes sense for Makhachev to have is a title defense against Ilia Topuria, if he comes up in weight.
Merab Dvalishvili is a Special Champion
Inglewood, CA – January 18: Merab Dvalishvili (red) battles Umar Nurmagomedov (blue) during their … [+] bantamweight championship bout at UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on Saturday, January 18, 2024. Dvalishvili defeated Nurmagomedov by judges decision to remain the UFC bantamweight champion.(Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Umar Nurmagomedov is all-world, he proved that on Saturday night in the co-main event. And that’s what makes Merab Dvalishvili’s come-from-behind win all the more impressive.
After it appeared Dvalishvili lost the first two rounds of the fight, the Georgian’s pace proved to be too much for Nurmagomedov. Like all of Dvalishvili’s past opponents on his epic win streak, Nurmagomedov melted.
In a five-round fight, unless someone sleeps Dvalishvili early, it’s going to be hard to imagine who beats him in a championship fight.
Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill Went to War
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 18: (R-L) Jiri Prochazka of the Czech Republic punches Jamahal Hill … [+] in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC 311 event at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
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Respect is due to Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill.
The two former light heavyweight champions delivered an amazing, all-action bout. Procházka prevailed by third-round TKO, but Hill had his moments.
Procházka has already fought and lost to champion Alex Pereira twice, but after his win on Saturday, he asked for a third shot at the king of 205. Quite honestly, that third fight may never happen. Pereira is already set to defend his title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March.
It’s hard to imagine Pereira fighting Procházka for a third time before having a rematch with Jan Błachowicz. Procházka may have to wait for Pereira to move to heavyweight if he wants to regain the light heavyweight strap.
In any case, Procházka did his part in putting on a show on Saturday night.
Ricky Turcios Has an Insane Gas Tank
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 18: Ricky Turcios looks on against Benardo Sopaj of Albania in a … [+] bantamweight fight during the UFC 311 event at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
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This shot of Ricky Turcios looks like it came straight out of a well-shot combat sports movie. Despite losing to an impressive Bernardo Sopaj, Turcios showed off an amazing gas tank—a theme that would be highlighted again in the co-main event.
Sopaj proved to be too much, and he has the talent to be a player in the bantamweight division, but Turcios impressed me with his stamina and toughness. Anyone who draws Turcios moving forward will have a tough assignment.
Ailin Perez Isn’t Going to Stop Twerking
Another win, another twerk for Ailín Pérez.
While Pérez has become known as the woman who twerks after wins in the Octagon, she’s actually a very good fighter. Pérez ran her current win streak to 5-0. Pérez came into the fight ranked No. 13, but after her win over No. 9 Karol Rosa, she should be in the Top 10 next week.
Afterward, she did this:
Payton Talbott Has Some Work to Do
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 18: (L-R) Raoni Barcelos of Brazil works for a submission against … [+] Payton Talbott in a bantamweight fight during the UFC 311 event at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
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Raoni Barcelos came into his fight with Payton Talbott as a +750 underdog, but the fights aren’t contested by the oddsmakers. Barcelos’ relentless ground game proved to be too much for Talbott.
The Brazilian took the previously undefeated prospect down and dominated him for three rounds. Is Talbott still a hot prospect? Yes, but he’s got a lot of work to do after this humbling loss.
Kevin Holland is Officially a Gatekeeper
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 18: Reinier de Ridder of the Netherlands takes down Kevin Holland of … [+] the United States in a middleweight fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Holland has a great gimmick: he doesn’t care about anything; he just wants to fight. He talks constantly—even when he’s on the bottom in a grappling situation.
RDR didn’t care about any of it. He came across the Octagon, took Holland down, and minutes later, the former ONE Championship double titleholder submitted his opponent with a rear-naked choke.
Holland has now lost two in a row, four of his last five, and six of his last nine. At this point, he is seemingly in a position where he should be the test for newcomers to the UFC who have a bit of momentum.
UFC 311 was eventful, but now the promotion will take a week off before the February 1 event headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov.
