Sat Jan 18 21:23:07 UTC 2025: **UFC 311: Title Fights and Main Event Shakeup in Los Angeles**
LOS ANGELES, CA – The UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2025, UFC 311, will take place in Los Angeles with a revised main event. Originally slated to feature Islam Makhachev defending his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan, the card has undergone a significant change due to Tsarukyan’s withdrawal from the fight because of a back injury. Makhachev will now face Renato Moicano, who was previously scheduled to fight Beneil Dariush on the main card.
The co-main event remains a title fight, with bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili defending his belt against Umar Nurmagomedov. This matchup pits Dvalishvili, considered the underdog, against the fast-rising Nurmagomedov, aiming to follow in the footsteps of his famous cousin, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The main card reshuffle also impacts the undercard. Dariush has been removed from the card but is expected to be rebooked soon. Replacing the Moicano-Dariush bout is a heavyweight clash between Jailton Almeida and Serghei Spivac. Adding further excitement, former light heavyweight champions Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill will face off, both having vacated their titles due to injuries.
While this late change affects pre-event predictions, analysts are still offering picks. One prediction favors Kevin Holland over Roman Dolidze, highlighting Holland’s striking advantage. Other predictions include Jiri Prochazka as a slight underdog and Umar Nurmagomedov winning via decision. Further analysis and detailed picks can be found at SportsLine.
First Piper 