UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2 | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Roe Jogan
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2 took place on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California — the first UFC pay-per-view of 2025. Islam Makhachev retained the UFC lightweight title via unanimous decision in the rematch with Arman Tsarukyan, and Merab Dvalishvili made his first bantamweight title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov in the co-main. The card produced an estimated 700,000 pay-per-view buys.
Tsarukyan had given Makhachev the closest fight of his pre-title career — a split decision in 2022 — and earned the rematch through a five-fight win streak that included victories over Beneil Dariush and Mateusz Gamrot. The rematch at the Intuit Dome — a 18,000-seat arena in Inglewood, California — was the most-anticipated lightweight title fight since Makhachev's UFC 302 defense against Poirier.
Contents
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025
📍 Venue: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California, USA
👥 Attendance: 18,000 (full capacity)
📺 PPV Buys: ~700,000
🏆 Main Event: Islam Makhachev (c) vs. Arman Tsarukyan — UFC Lightweight Championship (155 lbs)
✅ Result: Makhachev def. Tsarukyan via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
🥇 Co-Main: Merab Dvalishvili (c) def. Umar Nurmagomedov via Unanimous Decision (49-46 ×3) — Bantamweight Title
The Build-Up
The Tsarukyan rematch had been one of the most-discussed unbooked UFC fights since Makhachev's UFC 284 title win. Tsarukyan was the only fighter to have pushed Makhachev in a split-decision bout — their 2022 fight was the most competitive of Makhachev's pre-championship career. After four years and a complete rebuild of Tsarukyan's game at the top of the division, the rematch finally landed.
Makhachev was defending for the fourth time (Volkanovski UD, Volkanovski KO, Poirier R5 sub, Tsarukyan UD). He was -350; Tsarukyan was +260. The Intuit Dome — home of the LA Clippers, opened in 2024 — was making its UFC debut. The co-main pitted Dvalishvili against Umar Nurmagomedov, the cousin of Khabib and one of the most technically complete bantamweights in the division. The Dagestan-vs-Georgia wrestling matchup was one of the most technically anticipated co-main events of recent years.
Main Event: Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2
The rematch was more decisive than the original. Makhachev used his wrestling and his clinch control to dominate four of five rounds. Tsarukyan's striking volume — his key weapon in the 2022 original — was neutralised by Makhachev's takedown sequences and his submission threats from top position. Rounds one, two, four, and five were clearly Makhachev's; Tsarukyan won round three on striking output.
Final scorecards: 49-46, 49-46, 49-46. Makhachev's most dominant title defense by the margin of victory in the rematch context. The series was settled: 2-0 Makhachev (split decision 2022, UD 2025). Islam Makhachev's fourth successful lightweight title defense confirmed his status as the consensus #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world going into mid-2025.
Co-Main Event: Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
The most technically-watched bantamweight fight in years. Merab Dvalishvili, who had won the title at UFC 306, faced Umar Nurmagomedov — 17-0 in MMA, unbeaten across his UFC career, and the most complete technical bantamweight not on the championship ladder. The fight was billed as a wrestling battle between two of the most complete grapplers in the division.
Dvalishvili used his volume to outwork Umar across five rounds. His takedown frequency — the defining tool of his championship win over O'Malley — was matched here by Umar's defensive wrestling. The fight was more striking-based than either man's typical performance; Dvalishvili's forward pressure and volume won four of five rounds. Final scorecards: 49-46, 49-46, 49-46. Merab Dvalishvili retained the bantamweight title in his first defense.
Full Results
Main Card (Pay-Per-View)
Islam Makhachev (c) def. Arman Tsarukyan — Unanimous Decision (49-46 ×3) — Lightweight Title
Merab Dvalishvili (c) def. Umar Nurmagomedov — Unanimous Decision (49-46 ×3) — Bantamweight Title
Renato Moicano def. Beneil Dariush — Unanimous Decision (29-28 ×3) — Lightweight
Maheshate def. Nate Landwehr — KO (punches) — R1 — Featherweight
Jailton Almeida def. Curtis Blaydes — Unanimous Decision (29-28 ×3) — Heavyweight
Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+)
Paddy Pimblett def. Marc Diakiese — Submission (rear-naked choke) — R3 — Lightweight
Nazim Sadykhov def. Cameron Saaiman — Split Decision — Bantamweight
Bonuses & Awards
🥇 Performance of the Night: Islam Makhachev — $50,000 for the dominant 49-46 unanimous-decision win over Arman Tsarukyan in his fourth consecutive title defense.
🥇 Performance of the Night: Merab Dvalishvili — $50,000 for the unanimous-decision win over Umar Nurmagomedov in his first bantamweight title defense.
🥇 Performance of the Night: Renato Moicano — $50,000 for the upset unanimous-decision win over Beneil Dariush.
Records & Milestones
• Makhachev-Tsarukyan series settled 2-0 Makhachev (SD 2022, UD 2025) — the most dominant lightweight reign since Khabib.
• Makhachev's fourth consecutive lightweight title defense — matching Khabib's four-defense run from 2018-2021.
• UFC 311 was the first UFC PPV held at the Intuit Dome — the LA Clippers' arena that opened in 2024.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 311 is remembered as the definitive resolution of the Makhachev-Tsarukyan series and as the most complete display of Makhachev's championship game. The 49-46 sweep of the man who had pushed him closest in the pre-title era confirmed that Makhachev had improved beyond the reach of Tsarukyan's tools.
For Dvalishvili, the Umar Nurmagomedov defense was the most technically demanding fight of his title reign — the first opponent who matched his wrestling credentials. His ability to win a primarily striking-based five-rounder against a grappler of Umar's calibre demonstrated the complete development of his game beyond the takedown-volume tool that had defined his O'Malley performance.
FAQ
Why was the Makhachev-Tsarukyan rematch so anticipated?
Their 2022 fight — a split decision that Makhachev won 29-28 on two cards and 28-29 on one — was the most competitive fight of Makhachev's pre-championship career. Tsarukyan's volume striking (over 100 significant strikes landed) had tested Makhachev's chin and his wrestling in ways no other opponent had. The rematch was anticipated because Tsarukyan had improved significantly in the intervening three years while Makhachev had added four title defenses. The question was whether the growth rates had converged.
How does UFC 311 compare to UFC 310?
UFC 311 drew approximately 700,000 PPV buys versus UFC 310 (650,000) six weeks earlier — a 50,000-buy gain driven by the Makhachev star power and the Tsarukyan rematch narrative opening the 2025 calendar.
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