The upcoming main event, UFC 311, scheduled for Jan. 18, should be the perfect way to start the new year for fight fans.
The night features two championship fights: the main event, featuring lightweight champion Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan, and the co-main event, featuring bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov.
Makhachev is the top ranked pound-for-pound fighter, and he has the potential to be a generational great. His fast-paced, melodic striking, his footwork, his unlimited gas tank, and his world-class wrestling make Makhachev machine-like.
The challenger, Tsarukyan, is an extremely talented young fighter hungry for his first belt. Tsarukyan defeated Charles Oliveira, an exceptional grappler, to earn his way to a shot at the belt. But his style emphasizes his wrestling skills, and he is not as well rounded as Makhachev is.
Due to his experience, Makhachev should take advantage of Tsarukyan’s poor endurance by breaking him down, and by the fourth or fifth round, Makhachev should take the win with a submission.
The co-main event should also be a hot fight. Dvalishvili is coming off a great win over the former champion Sean O’Malley, who is arguably one of the faces of the UFC. Dvalishvili displayed incredible technical abilities in this fight, along with his signature endurance, which never seems to run out.
Dvalishvili’s incredible wrestling will be put to the test against Nurmagomedov, who is the son of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Umar Nurmagomedov’s rise in the UFC can be attributed to his raw talent, dominant wrestling skills, and strategic strikes and kicks. But the odds are not entirely in his favor. Nurmagomedov recently told the media that he suffered a broken arm last year during training, but decided to continue training.
A broken arm, lack of experience compared to Dvalishvili, and poor endurance displayed in his last fight are some of things that loom over Nurmagomedov. With all of these factors, Dvalishvili probably will work on tiring out Nurmagomedov. He also will position himself to take advantage of Nurmagomedov’s arm, and once round three or four hits, Dvalishvili should begin showing off his insane endurance, submitting Nurmagomedov.
