The UFC ChampionClaims to Have Been Excluded from the Performance Institute
The UFC ChampionClaims to Have Been Excluded from the Performance Institute
The feud between UFC bantamweight titleholder Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov is escalating even further. These two opponents are locked in for the UFC 311 co-main event on January 18, happening at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
On a recent social media post, Dvalishvili alleged that UFC Performance Institute security prevented him from entering the facility where he was intended to rehab his injury. Nurmagomedov and his team were reportedly present at the facility at the time, creating the misunderstanding.
The situation could be interpreted as Dvalishvili feeling slighted, although it's possible that Nurmagomedov simply arrived earlier, and the timing of their encounter was not part of the plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What were the outcomes of Merab Dvalishvili's last 5 fights?
September 14, 2024: Defeated Sean O'Malley via unanimous decision at UFC 306.
February 17, 2024: Triumphant against Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision at UFC 298.
March 11, 2023: Emerged victorious against Petr Yan by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night.
August 20, 2022: Prevailed against José Aldo via unanimous decision at UFC 278.
September 25, 2021: Defeated Marlon Moraes via TKO at UFC 266
What were the outcomes of Umar Nurmagomedov's last 5 fights?
August 3, 2024: Wins against Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night.
March 2, 2024: Defeated Bekzat Almakhan by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night.
January 14, 2023: Triumphs over Raoni Barcelos via KO/TKO at UFC Fight Night.
June 25, 2022: Wins against Nate Maness by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night.
March 5, 2022: Submits Brian Kelleher at UFC 272.
What are the projected odds for Dvalishvili-Nurmagomedov?
Dvalishvili +170, Nurmagomedov -200
It appears UFC staff were taking measures to avoid any incident involving Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov before their scheduled UFC 311 co-main event on January 18.
There have been reports of Dvalishvili engaging in verbal conflicts with someone associated with Nurmagomedov's team and exchanging heated words with his UFC 311 opponent on social media. Tensions between both parties seem high going into the fight.
This increased tension is beneficial for the promotion, but if emotions escalate outside the Octagon, it may lead to injuries, arrests, and potential delays or cancellations of the event.
In any case, the developing story adds intrigue to what is already expected to be an exciting co-main event for UFC 311.
The following is the complete UFC 311 card, along with viewing information 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
- Jiří 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. Ailín Pérez - Bantamweight
- Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafurov - Bantamweight
- Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj - Bantamweight
- Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clayton Carpenter - Flyweight
The UFC will take a break until January 11, when it returns to the UFC Apex for a card headlined by Mackenzie Dern facing off against Amanda Ribas. Although less significant than UFC 311, MMA fans will eagerly await an event from the world's top-ranked promotion during the hiatus.
Dern vs. Ribas is expected to generate excitement akin to Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey after three consecutive eventless weeks. Keep an eye out for Fight Week coverage themselves as well as increased monitoring on UFC 311 approaching the first pay-per-view event of 2025.
When is UFC 311? UFC 311 is happening on January 18.Umar Nurmagomedov's next fight is against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311.Merab Dvalishvili is banned from entering the UFC Performance Institute, causing tension with Umar Nurmagomedov.When does UFC return? The UFC will take a break until January 11 when it returns to the UFC Apex for a card headlined by Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas.The UFC 311 card includes a title fight between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan.