UFC 311 is going to be the first pay-per-view event of UFC’s 2025 campaign. In the co-main event bout of the PPV event, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will defend his title against top challenger Umar Nurmagomedov. Ahead of the fight, the rivalry between both the fighters is palpable and the champion has sent some stern warnings.
A few weeks ago, Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov came face to face at their first press conference, where tensions ran high. The intense face-off was fueled by the trash talk and personal remarks exchanged leading up to the event. In a recent interview, Dvalishvili made it clear that he intends to hand Nurmagomedov his first professional loss.
It’s going to be a tough fight, a good fight. Of course, I’ll be looking for a finish…change his zero to one loss, that would be very good. It’s Umar Nurmagomedov, so win against him, I’ll take it, doesn’t matter.
Merab Dvalishvili via UFC
Umar Nurmagomedov remains undefeated with an impressive 18-0 record. Within Team Khabib, he’s not the only fighter with an unblemished record. Usman Nurmagomedov also boasts an undefeated streak. Together with Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s legendary 29-0 record, these three fighters have accumulated an extraordinary combined record of 65-0. Abubakar Nurmagomedov is the only Nurmagomedov who has faced defeat in the UFC, but does not have a ranking.
👀💪Merab Dvalishvili on fighting Umar Nurmagomedov:
“It’s going to be a tough fight, a good fight. Of course, I’ll be looking for a finish… it’s Umar Nurmagomedov, so [any] win against him—I’ll take it, doesn’t matter.”
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— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) December 28, 2024
Khabib Nurmagomedov will be at UFC 311 to corner his cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov, and he’s confident about securing a win. The ‘Eagle’ has firmly established himself as one of the top coaches in the sport, maintaining an undefeated record. Despite his last win, Merab Dvalishvili isn’t fully convinced of Nurmagomedov’s title contention. However, it’s clear that Dvalishvili isn’t underestimating the challenger.
Former UFC champion predicts Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Merab Dvalishvili
The UFC bantamweight division has turned out to be one of the most competitive divisions in recent times. While ‘Young Eagle’ got lucky after defeating the #2 ranked fighter, it was a different case for Merab Dvalishvili. During his title run, he fought some of the best fighters in the division’s history including names like Henry Cejudo, Jose Aldo, and Petr Yan..
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (via XMMA Fighting)Other than pre-existing fighters, former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo made his bantamweight debut last year. Since then, he has defeated Marlon Vera, Cody Garbrandt, etc. While he lost his last bout, the Brazilian will have a close look at the title fight at UFC 311. In a recent interview, he gave his prediction for the winner.
I tend more for Merab. The reason why I do this is his striking is not refined, but he manages to tire people and confuse people, so he can get them down. On the other hand, Umar is a guy that knows how to submit from the bottom. So, there is that risk for Merab. But after five rounds, I see Merab’s hand being raised.
Deiveson Figueiredo via MMA Junkie
Dvalishvili captured the bantamweight belt earlier this year by defeating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306. It was a brutal demonstration of the Georgian’s relentless pressure and ground control. Going into UFC 311, ‘The Machine’ is an underdog and betting sites expect ‘Young Eagle’ to emerge victorious.
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