Dvalishvili Defends UFC Title, Hands Nurmagomedov First Career Loss

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Merab Dvalishvili delivered a career-defining performance Saturday night, successfully defending his UFC bantamweight championship against previously undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov in the co-main event of UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome. The Georgian fighter secured a unanimous decision victory with judges scoring the bout 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47 in his favor.

Dvalishvili (19-4) overcame an early deficit and a cut near his left eye to dominate the later rounds, outlanding Nurmagomedov 133-81 in total strikes. The victory marked Dvalishvili’s fifth consecutive win against former champions and solidified his position as one of the UFC’s most dominant bantamweights.

‘Umar is a tough fighter and he’s good, but he called me old,’ said Dvalishvili, who at 34 is five years older than his opponent. ‘Yes, I’m old but I’m working every day. I’m a harder worker.’

Nurmagomedov (18-1), the younger cousin of retired Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, entered the fight as a significant betting favorite but struggled to implement his game plan. The Dagestani fighter revealed he suffered a hand injury in the opening round, which significantly impacted his performance. ‘I think first round, I won. Others was close,’ Nurmagomedov said. ‘And after first round, I can’t punch because I think I broke my [left] hand, and game go other way, you know?’

The fight’s outcome was particularly emotional for Khabib Nurmagomedov, who cornered his cousin during the bout. The former lightweight champion appeared visibly distraught as the decision was announced, marking the first loss in Umar’s 19-fight MMA career.

Dvalishvili’s victory also saw him surpass Georges St-Pierre‘s record for career takedowns in the UFC, further cementing his legacy in the sport. The champion’s relentless pace and grappling prowess proved too much for Nurmagomedov, who converted just 2 of 15 takedown attempts.

With this win, Dvalishvili sets up a potential showdown with former champion Sean O'Malley, who was in attendance at the event. O’Malley, who lost his title to Dvalishvili at UFC Noche in September, has since recovered from hip surgery and is expected to challenge for the belt later this year.