A Pair of UFC Champions Made History at UFC 311
A Pair of UFC Champions Made History at UFC 311
By Tim Burke January 21, 2025 16:40
The first UFC PPV event of the year is in the books, and it was such a great night of fights. Jiří Procházka's victory over Jamahal Hill via a third-round knockout in a thrilling light heavyweight match-up was a moment of pure excitement and thrill. Merab Dvalishvili earned his first title defense and became the first MMA fighter to defeat a Nurmagomedov. This event marks a significant moment in the history of UFC, showcasing the sport's evolution and the emergence of new champions. Islam Makhachev also looked brilliant in the main event, submitting Renato Moicano via first-round submission. It was a night to remember for UFC fans, but it was also a night that made history. Both UFC champions further cemented themselves in the history books with their performances at UFC 311.
In round five, Merab Dvalishvili broke George St. Pierre's record for most takedowns in UFC history with 91. The bantamweight champion scored seven takedowns against Umar Nurmagomedov throughout five rounds, a feat that no UFC fighter had achieved before UFC 311. Merab breaking the all-time takedowns record against Umar Nurmagomedov shows that he is one of the best wrestlers in UFC history.
Merab's gritty Saturday performance has earned him tremendous respect throughout the MMA community. The bantamweight champion has defeated four former UFC champions (Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, and Sean O'Malley) and the previously undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. No UFC champion has faced tougher competition than Merab Dvalishvili. He is now being discussed as potentially the greatest bantamweight in UFC history, and he certainly has a strong case for that title. He has a case for being the world's top three pound-for-pound fighter right now.
Islam Makhachev made history at UFC 311. Following his victory over Renato Moicano, the lightweight champion has now defended his belt four times. Makhachev's four title defenses are the most in lightweight history in the UFC. Makhachev has now passed his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, for the most title defenses in the history of the UFC's lightweight division. Like Merab, Makhachev has now entered the conversation as the greatest fighter in the history of his division.
It is nearly impossible to compare fighters from different eras. The sport of MMA has evolved and improved so much over the 30-year history of the UFC. However, Merab's achievements in significant competition set him apart from every other bantamweight, and Makhachev's record-breaking fourth title defense illustrates how dominant of a champion he is. UFc 311 showed that the UFC is on a great place where we are witnessing the best fighters in the history of Mixed Martial Arts competing in the UFC right now.
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