UFC Performance Institute (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
The UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov are set to face off in the UFC 311 co-main event on January 18 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, intensifying their rivalry.
On Monday, Dvalishvili claimed on social media that he was denied entry to the UFC Performance Institute for rehab due to the presence of Nurmagomedov and his team.
While Dvalishvili’s post implied he was being intentionally excluded, it could have simply been a scheduling conflict as Nurmagomedov may have arrived earlier.
It seems UFC staff was trying to prevent any altercation between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov ahead of their fight on January 11 in the UFC 311 co-main event.
Tensions have escalated as Dvalishvili has engaged in altercations with someone linked to Nurmagomedov’s team and exchanged heated words on social media. This heightened emotion adds intrigue to their upcoming bout.
While this animosity can boost interest, it could also lead to negative consequences if conflicts arise outside the Octagon. Injuries, arrests, or fight delays are not ideal for anyone involved and could impact the event’s success.
Amidst the drama, UFC 311 promises an exciting co-main event that continues to captivate MMA fans as the event date approaches.
Here is a breakdown of the complete card and viewing details for the prelims and main card.
UFC 311 Main Card – ESPN+ PPV (10 PM ET)
- (c) Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan – UFC Lightweight Championship
- (c) Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov – UFC Men’s Bantamweight Championship
- Jiřà Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill – Light Heavyweight
- Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano – Lightweight
- Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder – Middleweight
UFC 311 Prelims – ESPNEWS/Disney+/ESPN+ (8 PM ET)
- Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov – Light Heavyweight
- Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos – Bantamweight
- Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac – Heavyweight
- Zach Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas – Middleweight
UFC 311 Early Prelims – ESPNEWS/Disney+/ESPN+ (6 PM ET)
- Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira – Lightweight
- Karol Rosa vs. AilÃn Pérez – Bantamweight
- Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafurov – Bantamweight
- Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj – Bantamweight
- Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clayton Carpenter – Flyweight
The UFC will be on break until January 11, returning with an event at the UFC Apex featuring Mackenzie Dern against Amanda Ribas. While not as significant as UFC 311, MMA enthusiasts eagerly await the return of the top promotion.
Following a three-week gap, Dern vs. Ribas is anticipated to reignite fan interest. Keep an eye out for Fight Week coverage of the UFC Fight Night and increased coverage of UFC 311 as the first pay-per-view event of 2025 approaches.
