Makhachev remains the UFC’s lightweight king

Islam Makhachev remains the UFC’s lightweight king after a first-round submission of Renato Moicano in the main event of UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on the morning of Sunday 19 January 2025.

The original main event was Makhachev defending against Arman Tsarukyan, but the latter pulled out earlier this weekend due to injury, and Moicano (who was supposed to have faced Beneil Dariush) stepped in as a late replacement.

However, the Brazilian didn’t make it out of the first round against the champion, eventually being forced to tap after Makhachev landed a takedown and was able to secure a D’Arce choke.

The 33-year-old Russian has now made four straight successful defences of his title, a record in the lightweight division, and he needs just one more victory to match the all-time UFC winning streak of 16, set by Anderson Silva.

“I’m always looking for a finish. I’m not just talk... if my opponent gives me a small chance, I will take the fight,” said Makhachev.

In the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili put up an astonishing display of relentless offence to hand Umar Nurmagomedov his first professional career defeat, and make a successful first defence of the bantamweight championship.

Nurmagomedov’s crisp striking put him ahead through the first two rounds, but the cardio of Dvalishvili paid dividends through the next three, as his unyielding pressure and ability to land takedowns – seemingly at will – ultimately brought him a unanimous decision (48-47 48-47 49-46) triumph on the judges’ score cards.

“I am ‘The Machine’,” said Dvalishvili, who revealed that he had to nurse a leg injury in the build-up to the fight.

The champion added, “He [Nurmagomedov] called me old... yes, I’m old, but I’m working every day. I’m a harder worker.”

The rest of the main card saw Reinier de Ridder submit Kevin Holland in the middleweight division; Jailton Almeida stopped Sergey Spivac in the first round of their heavyweight bout; and Jiri Prochazka claimed a thrilling third-round TKO win over Jamahal Hill in a meeting of former light heavyweight champions.

The UFC continues in just under two weeks with a Fight Night at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the evening of Saturday 1 February, headlined by a middleweight clash between Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov.

UFC 311 – Main card results

- Main event: Lightweight championship: Islam Makhachev def. Renato Moicano via submission (D’Arce choke), R1, 4:05

- Co-main event: Bantamweight championship: Merab Dvalishvili def. Umar Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision (48-47 48-47 49-46), R5, 5:00

- Light heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka def. Jamahal Hill via TKO (punches), R3, 3:01

- Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida def. Sergey Spivac via TKO (punches), R1, 4:53

- Middleweight: Reinier de Ridder def. Kevin Holland via submission (rear-naked choke), R1, 3:31