by Islam Makhachev defended his lightweight title with a quick submission of Renato Moicano at UFC 311, defeating the late-announced challenger with a first-round D’Arce choke.
Makhachev had expected to face Arman Tsarukyan, whom he had challenged six years ago, but he suffered a back injury the day before the fight. As a result, Moicano was withdrawn from his scheduled fight with Beneil Dariush and placed in the main event.
But the 35-year-old Brazilian was no match for 33-year-old Makhachev, who beat Moicano and soon scored a D’Arce. It was the same technique the Russian used to win his last fight against Dustin Poirier in June.
With Saturday’s victory, Makhachev cemented his status as the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, as he won a record-tying fourth title defense at 155 pounds – and his 15th straight win overall.
In Makhachev’s corner was his trainer and childhood friend Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was also in Umar Nurmagomedov’s corner in the co-main event of UFC 311.
Umar, one of Khabib’s cousins, challenged Merab Dvalishvili for his bantamweight title and fell short in a thrilling five-round fight.
Dvalishvili won a unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) after using his famous pressure and cardio to erase what appeared to be an early lead. This gave the Georgian Nurmagomedov his first professional defeat.
Some within MMA felt that Dvalishvili was too much of an underdog based on the odds, and he proved them right with his impressive comeback in Los Angeles.
Elsewhere at UFC 311, Jiri Prochazka beat Jamahal Hill in a clash of former light heavyweight champions. The Czech stopped the American in round three after also dropping Hill in round one.
