Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov, UFC 311 ceremonial weigh-in Credit: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press
The grudge match between bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and unbeaten Dagestan Umar Nurmagomedov finally took place in Saturday’s co-main event of UFC 311.
Utilizing the giant screens at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the UFC actually tweaked the strikes a bit, giving each fighter a unique graphic inspired by Merab’s machine to match their nickname.
Machine on big screen 🇬🇪
[ #UFC311 LIVE on @ESPNPlus PPV | @IntuitDome ] pic.twitter.com/IVmqR0cVPk
— UFC (@ufc) January 19, 2025
Nurmagomedov was looking to buck that trend, as three undefeated fighters – Clayton Carpenter, Tomoya Nakamura and Peyton Talbot – lost none earlier in the night.
The match was heated, with Nurmagomedov calling Dvalishvili a “paper champion” and the champion losing his cool and claiming his challenger was being rude, but there was a glove touch to start the match. There was a bit of a sickening process once it started – neither man chose to charge in recklessly, but for good reason.
Instead, there were a number of fan-shaped kicks, with large spaces between them. After 90 seconds, things finally changed and Nurmagomedov landed first. But soon they came together and it was a champion landing.
Nail-biting might be the best way to describe the beginning of UFC 311’s co-main event. Dvalishvili connected with an overhand right, putting Nurmagomedov on guard. He landed punches and got into the clinch, and when he couldn’t get a takedown, Merab picked the body a few times.
A calm Nurmagomedov found his range, attempted a single leg takedown, and when he got stuck, followed the champion with a flying knee. Dvalishvili fled. They would settle it with a minute left, but neither had the upper hand. Nurmagomedov’s kicks and left hands started to land, and later in the round, Umar landed a right that sent Dvalishvili backpedaling.
That crucial blow at the end of the first round may have moved the needle for Umar in terms of winning the round. In the second round, the champion started attacking, only to be clipped by a few counters. Dvalishvili held on, but Nurmagomedov landed a tight left. Dvalishvili then bent down and looked for a takedown, which was easily stuffed.
With just over three minutes left in the second round, he returned to the center and Dvalishvili grabbed his leg. Umar sprawled, scrambled, and after a spectacular reversal, he landed a hook and took the back. However, the champion escaped and stood up, although the wear was not too bad. Merab fired an overhand shot and immediately closed the distance, but Nurmagomedov fought it off. Nurmagomedov then attempted a takedown of his own and Merab defended. Merab single leg, Umar free. Dvalishvili then pressed, swung and changed levels looking for a takedown, but Nurmagomedov once again displayed some great takedown defense.
The third round began with a single leg attempt by Merab. It landed briefly, but Umar scrambled free and reset in the middle. Merab’s spinning backfist missed, but both men exchanged blows and countered. Dvalishvili continued to land takedowns with his hands and Nurmagomedov bit off his feints. Dvalishvili then got a takedown and threw Umar onto his back moments later. Dvalishvili got a takedown with 90 seconds left, but Nurmagomedov lifted Dvalishvili with his legs and rolled him over to regain control, but Merab reversed the fight while chatting with the UFC broadcast team.
Seriously.
Near the end of the round, Nurmagomedov applied a bodylock from behind, but Dvalishvili struggled and was able to get a takedown. Moments before Nurmagomedov completed his attempt, the champion held out his hand and showed off. But there was no time left for work.
Ahead of the championship round, Dvalishvili’s corner prompted him to increase the pace. Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov’s corner urged Dvalishvili to keep his head down as he timed his entry. And starting the fourth round, Dvalishvili did just that, working on a takedown attempt and then another takedown attempt. The second one landed. The third followed. In the first 90 seconds, Merab attempted three takedowns and landed two. Nurmagomedov made a comeback once again. He threw a high kick, but it didn’t reach him. He then shot for a takedown of his own, but it was too far away.
Meanwhile, the champion went to the exhausted body of Umar Nurmagomedov. The exchange resulted in both men landing. Nurmagomedov fought off another takedown. The right hand was the champion. Then Merab returned to his body. When Nurmagomedov grabbed his leg, Dvalishvili essentially just walked away from his challenger. Nurmagomedov landed a high crotch single, which Merab defended with ease. Nurmagomedov looked drained. Merab landed the punches and got the most decisive takedown of the fight with 30 seconds left. As the name “The Machine” suggests, he was able to run at a machine-like pace that only he could do.
After four rounds, there was a very strong argument that the match was tied at two rounds each. Glory awaits with less than five minutes left. After 20 minutes, Dvalishvili was clearly feeling lighter on his feet and was pumping with his backfists. He then changed levels and got a takedown. Merab landed a leg kick first to the inside, then another to the outside. A takedown attempt follows and it gets jammed. And one more thing. Next, the third one, from the right hand. Nurmagomedov was still standing, but 90 seconds had passed on the clock. A fourth takedown attempt by the champion put Nurmagomedov in trouble. Again, the challenger remained standing.
Around the halfway mark of the final round, it was Umar who went for a takedown. It was packed. Both men exchanged punches. Nurmagomedov with a kick to the body. Dvalishvili then attempted another takedown, and yet another stood still to keep them connected. Nurmagomedov found space for a kick. In the final moments, Dvalishvili landed a right hand, dumping Nurmagoemdov and playing to the crowd. Another takedown lands, this time Merab gets the back and gets it back through Umar, only to be taken down again. That earned them the bell, and Merab Dvalishvili became the first man to defeat Umar Nurmagomedov in the UFC, and the first man ever to defeat him.
Merab Dvalishvili thanked his home country of Georgia and his second country of America and told his fans to believe in themselves after retaining the title. Nurmagomedov, on the other hand, will almost certainly strive to return to the top in the not-too-distant future, and a rematch eventually would be a welcome development.
Official result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Umar Nurmagomedov unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
