Islam Makhachev reminded the MMA world that he is the number one fighter for a reason. Makhachev defeated late replacement Renato Moicano in a first-round submission in the main event of UFC 311 on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Heavyweight title. Can anyone defeat Makhachev? He's the favorite according to ESPN BET, and it looks like a no-brainer. In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili struggled against Umar Numagomedov but ended up with a decision Won to retain his belt. What happens to the champion now? In another notable fight, Jiri Prochazka stopped former light heavyweight champion Jamalha Hill in the third round and demanded a third rematch with champion Alex Pereira . He's 0-2 against Pereira, can he win the game and get a result this time? What should be next for the former champion? Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale and Jeff Wagenheim share their thoughts on these games.
It doesn’t matter who stands across the cage from Islam Makhachev. Whether it's Renato Moicano challenging him in the main event or even his scheduled opponent, Makhachev will fight hard and make Saturday night all about him.
The lightweight champion has reached the top of the sport with the same traits that inspired his friend and mentor, retired former champion Khabib Nuurgamomedov: calm discipline.
The final change in opponents - Arman Tsarukyan withdrew on Friday with a back injury - did not faze Makhachev. Neither did the troubling events of just minutes earlier, when friend and teammate Umar Nurmagomedov suffered his first career defeat in a failed bid for the bantamweight title. Some fighters - even very good fighters, champions and stars - may be put off from competing. Not Makhachev. He stayed focused as usual.
Moicano's easy submission gave Makhachev a 15-fight win streak, tied with Kamaru Usman for the second-longest winning streak in UFC history, behind only Anderson Silva. He also defeated some other all-time greats, including Coach Khabib and B.J. Penn, to win the lightweight title for a fifth time, the most in UFC history. But the record doesn’t tell Makhachev’s story.
ESPN's No. 1-ranked boxer has a wealth of skills, but what really powers him are words that rhyme with skill. This is his will. It was not just a will to win, but a will to be Islam Makhachev and nothing more, regardless of the circumstances around him.
Who or what can challenge this person? Whether Makhachev will continue to fight at lightweight or move up to welterweight and try to become a champion in both weight classes is a question that he and his team will address in due course. One thing we do know for sure now: Whenever he next steps into the cage, no matter who it's against, it won't be too big a fight for Makhachev. ——Wagenheim
We will see a trilogy between Merab Dvalishvili and Omar Nurmagomedov before their respective careers come to an end. One, they are clearly the best bantamweights in the world. I don't discount the chances of Sean O'Malley, Corey Sandhagen or Peter Yan pulling off an upset, but that's not the most likely scenario. The odds currently favor Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov over every other bantamweight in the world.
The fight on Saturday was unbelievable. It stands to reason that neither of them were at their best. Dvalishvili never wanted to play at this point in time and hinted he was not 100 percent after injuring his right leg in training. He had wanted to take a break at the start of 2025, but with the UFC looking to book the fight in January, he entered training camp early.
Nurmagomedov obviously broke his hand in the first round, and regardless, he will learn from the experience and grow from it. No matter which of these two you choose to win the rematch, you can confidently say they'll both be better the next time they compete. Their shares also rose on Saturday, which is significant. Even going into UFC 311, you wouldn't say Dvalishvili or Nurmagomedov are the biggest names in the division. This battle showed them a different side. It's very interesting because they are so evenly matched. Before this game, they were able to impose their will on their opponents without much resistance.
Dvalishvili isn't considered a super exciting bantamweight, but when you pit him against someone like Nurmagomedov, he can defend his wrestling and force He drained every ounce of his famous gas tank and it was one of the more entertaining performances. His antics to the crowd might be off-putting if he's way ahead on the scorecards, but it has a more positive impact when he's out there fighting and trying to piss off the crowd behind him. This could turn out to be one of the best rivalries the sports world will witness over the next two years. ——Okamoto
Although Jiří Procházka is ranked lower than Alex Pereira in the light heavyweight division, he has proven that he has the "it" factor to attract fans, and he Saturday's performance cemented his place in the hearts of boxing fans.
With his epic gaze, samurai-influenced lifestyle and exciting fighting style, Prochazka is one of the best in the UFC. Add to that the fact that he shaved his head in solidarity with fans of Ashly McGarity, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer last September, and the UFC can support the fighter regardless of a world title shot.
UFC 311 was another display of star power from the Czech Republic, who put up a thrilling fight with Jamaal Hill before winning by third-round knockout in another great showdown. The crowd was firmly behind Prochazka from start to finish, and the final game highlighted his magnetic aura.
There’s rarely a dull moment in Procházka’s battles. His defense does little more than move his head, he barely escapes danger, and his unorthodox attack makes it difficult for opponents to understand. Hill didn't have the reflexes to catch the move and was eventually crushed by the former champion. No one except Pereira could fully understand Prochazka.
Will he become world champion again? perhaps. But the UFC needs stars who can draw attention away from world title fights, and Procházka fits the bill. A fight with Khalil Rountree should be next on the agenda and could be worthy of a first light heavyweight BMF title fight. ——Hare