Islam Makhachev Defends Lightweight Title with First-Round Submission Over Renato Moicano at UFC 311
Merab Dvalishvili successfully defends bantamweight crown in a thrilling bout against Umar Nurmagomedov.
Islam Makhachev retained his lightweight championship with a dominant first-round submission over Renato Moicano at UFC 311, securing his 15th consecutive victory in just four minutes and five seconds. The Russian fighter quickly imposed his grappling skills on Moicano, locking in a D'Arce choke after a swift takedown at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
Makhachev, who now holds a record of 27 wins and just one loss, extended his reign as the most decorated lightweight champion in UFC history. With five title fight wins and four successful title defenses, Makhachev has proven himself as a dominant force in the division. This victory also marked his 13th win by submission.
“I like this belt,” Makhachev remarked after the fight. “If somebody wants this belt, come to the cage.”
Moicano, who stepped in as a last-minute replacement for top contender Arman Tsarukyan—who withdrew due to significant back pain—entered the bout with a strong record of nine wins in his last 10 fights. However, the Brazilian proved no match for Makhachev’s superior grappling, conceding the submission early in the fight.
Moicano, visibly disappointed, reflected on the missed opportunity, saying, “That wasn’t a one-day notice. That was a life’s notice. I’m very sad. I spent my whole life for this moment and tapped in the first round.”
Makhachev, for his part, expressed no preference for his next opponent, leaving future matchups open.
In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his title in a dramatic bout against Umar Nurmagomedov, extending his winning streak to 12 and handing the second-ranked contender his first career loss. Both fighters had their moments in the fight, with Nurmagomedov leading after the first two rounds according to two of the three judges. However, Dvalishvili turned the tide in the final rounds, securing a victory. Nurmagomedov also revealed he had injured his left hand in the first round, which hindered his ability to perform.
In other action, former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka overwhelmed Jamahal Hill in the third round, securing a total knockout (TKO) at the 3:00 mark. In the heavyweight division, sixth-ranked Jailton Almeida dispatched seventh-ranked Serghei Spivac with a ground-and-pound TKO at 4:53 of the first round. Reinier de Ridder wasted no time in his middleweight bout, securing a rear-naked choke on Kevin Holland just 10 seconds into the first round and finishing the match at 3:31.