The Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, hosted UFC 311, a card brimming with talent, unexpected twists, and electrifying finishes. Fans worldwide tuned in for a night that did not disappoint, featuring two championship bouts and a collection of thrilling undercard matchups. Here’s a detailed recap of the event that had the MMA world buzzing.
UFC 311 took place on January 18, 2025, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, delivering a night of thrilling fights and memorable moments.
In the main event, UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev faced Renato Moicano, who stepped in on short notice after Arman Tsarukyan withdrew due to injury.
The co-main event featured UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili defending his title against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.
Azamat Bekoev vs. Zachary Reese: Azamat Bekoev made a remarkable UFC debut by defeating Zachary Reese via knockout at 3:04 of the first round.
Bekoev, the reigning LFA Middleweight Champion, showcased his striking prowess, delivering a brutal first-round knockout.Bogdan Guskov vs. Billy Elekana: Bogdan Guskov secured a victory by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:33 of the second round against Billy Elekana.- Despite facing challenges early in the fight, Guskov managed to reverse the situation and dominated with powerful strikes, ultimately securing the submission win.Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira: Grant Dawson defeated Diego Ferreira by unanimous decision, with all judges scoring the bout 30-27 in his favor.
Ailin Perez vs. Karol Rosa: Ailin Perez earned a unanimous decision victory over Karol Rosa, with judges scoring the fight 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27.
Preliminary Card Highlights
Muin Gafurov vs. Rinya Nakamura: Muin Gafurov handed Rinya Nakamura the first loss of his professional career, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 30-27 across all judges.
Benardo Sopaj vs. Ricky Turcios: Benardo Sopaj secured his first UFC victory by outworking TUF winner Ricky Turcios, earning a unanimous decision with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28.
Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clayton Carpenter: Tagir Ulanbekov opened the event with a unanimous decision win over the previously unbeaten Clayton Carpenter, with judges scoring the bout 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28.
Notable Moments
A lighthearted moment occurred backstage when UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira engaged in a humorous face-off with social media personality Hasbulla. The interaction took a comedic turn when Hasbulla playfully headbutted Pereira, leading to an exaggerated fall by the champion.
