The first numbered UFC event of 2025 goes down Saturday, and it’s a good one with UFC 311 at the recently-opened Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., with a main card on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.
A compelling championship doubleheader tops the strong lineup. In the main event, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) attempts to make his fourth title defense in a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), while in the co-main event, bantamweight titleholder Merab Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) goes for a first defense against the undefeated sensation Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC).
For more on the numbers behind both title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC 311.
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Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan
Islam Makhachev
Islam Makhachev
Makhachev’s four victories in UFC lightweight title fights are tied with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Benson Henderson and B.J. Penn for most in divisional history.
Makhachev’s three consecutive UFC lightweight title defenses are tied with Nurmagomedov, Henderson, Penn and Frankie Edgar for most of any champion in divisional history.
Makhachev’s three consecutive UFC title defenses are tied with Alex Pereira and Alexandre Pantoja for most among current champions.
Makhachev’s 14-fight UFC winning streak is the longest active streak among fighters on the roster.
Makhachev’s 14-fight UFC winning streak is the third-longest streak in company history behind Anderson Silva (16) and Kamaru Usman (15).
Makhachev’s 13-fight UFC winning streak at lightweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Makhachev’s 13-fight UFC winning streak at lightweight is the longest in divisional history.
Makhachev’s seven submission victories in UFC lightweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Jim Miller (11) and Charles Oliveira (10).
Makhachev is one of seven fighters in UFC history to earn submission victories with five or more different techniques. Oliveira, Miller, Gerald Meerschaert, Frank Mir, Chris Lytle and Stefan Struve also accomplished the feat.
Makhachev lands 60.3 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.
Makhachev absorbs 1.51 significant strikes per minute in UFC lightweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.
Makhachev has defended 90.9 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the third-best rate in divisional history behind Ludovit Klein (95.2 percent) and Gleison Tibau (92 percent).
Makhachev has been awarded five fight-night bonus in his past four UFC appearances.
Arman Tsarukyan
Arman Tsarukyan
Tsarukyan is 9-1 in his past 10 UFC appearances, dating back to his April 2019 loss to Makhachev.
Tsarukyan has earned 15 of his 22 career victories by stoppage.
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
Merab Dvalishvili
Merab Dvalishvili
Dvalishvili is one of two Georgian champions in UFC history. Ilia Topuria also accomplished the feat.
Dvalishvili is one of nine undisputed bantamweight champions in UFC history.
Dvalishvili is one of three fighters in UFC history to win an undisputed championship after starting 0-2 in the promotion. Rafael dos Anjos and Miesha Tate also accomplished the feat.
Dvalishvili’s 10-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Dvalishvili’s 10-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is the longest streak in divisional history.
Dvalishvili has earned 14 of his 18 career victories by decision. That includes 10 of his 11 UFC wins.
Dvalishvili’s nine decision victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied with Raphael Assuncao for most in divisional history.
Dvalishvili has landed 85 takedowns in UFC competition, the second-most in company history behind Georges St-Pierre (90).
Dvalishvili’s 72 takedowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history.
Dvalishvili is the only fighter in history to land 10 or more takedowns in four separate UFC bouts.
Dvalishvili attempted 49 takedowns at UFC Fight Night 221, the single-fight record for a UFC bout.
Dvalishvili has landed 1,950 total strikes in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history.
Dvalishvili out-landed Marlon Moraes by 212 total strikes at UFC 266, the largest differential in a single UFC/WEC bantamweight bout.
Umar Nurmagomedov
Umar Nurmagomedov
Nurmagomedov can become the 15th fighter in UFC history to win an undisputed championship with an undefeated record.
Nurmagomedov’s five-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied for the third-longest active streak in the division behind Dvalishvili (10) and Mario Bautista (seven).
Nurmagomedov lands 63.1 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC bantamweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.
Nurmagomedov absorbs just 1.41 significant strikes per minute in UFC bantamweight competition, the third-best rate in divisional history behind Chico Camus (1.31) and Montel Jackson (1.38).
Jamahal Hill vs. Jiri Prochazka
Jamahal Hill
Jamahal Hill
Jamahal Hill (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is the first fighter to win a UFC title after signing with the promotion through Dana White’s Contender Series. Sean O’Malley also accomplished the feat.
Hill’s four knockout victories since 2020 in UFC light heavyweight competition are tied with five other fighters for second-most in the division behind Dustin Jacoby (five).
Hill lands 6.85 significant strikes per minute in UFC light heavyweight competition, the second-highest rate in divisional history behind Carlos Ulberg (7.28).
Hill landed 232 significant strikes at UFC 283, the single-fight record for a UFC light heavyweight bout.
Jiri Prochazka
Jiri Prochazka (30-5-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has earned 29 of his 30 career victories by stoppage. That includes all four of his UFC wins.
Prochazka’s victory at the 4:32 mark of Round 5 at UFC 275 is the third-latest finish in UFC championship fight behind Demetrious Johnson’s win at UFC 186 (4:59 of Round 5) and Max Holloway’s win at UFC 300 (4:59 of Round 5).
Prochazka is one of eight fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning back elbow. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 23.
Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
Beneil Dariush
Beneil Dariush’s (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) 16 victories in UFC lightweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Miller (24) and Donald Cerrone (17).
Dariush is one of 11 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning backfist. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 174.
Renato Moicano (20-5-1 MMA, 12-5 UFC) is 7-1 since he moved up to the UFC lightweight division in March 2020.
Moicano’s six-fight UFC winning streak at lightweight is tied with Paddy Pimblett for the second-longest active streak in the division behind Makhachev (13).
Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder
Kevin Holland
Kevin Holland (26-12 MMA, 13-9 UFC) is 1-1 since he returned to the UFC middleweight division in June 2024. He’s 9-5 when fighting in the weight class.
Reinier de Ridder (18-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), a former two-division ONE Championship titleholder at light heavyweight and middleweight, was successful in his octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 247.
De Ridder has earned 16 of his 18 career victories by stoppage. That includes his lone UFC win.
Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac
Jailton Almeida
Jailton Almeida (20-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) is 5-1 since he moved up to the UFC heavyweight division in May 2022.
Almeida registered 21:10 of ground control time at UFC Fight Night 231, the single-fight UFC heavyweight record and fourth most overall in company history.
Almeida absorbed just two significant strikes in the first five fights of his UFC career.
Almeida absorbs just 0.77 significant strikes per minute in UFC heavyweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.
Serghei Spivac (17-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) complete 65.1 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.
Spivac has landed 28 takedowns in UFC heavyweight competition, the third-most in divisional history behind Curtis Blaydes (62) and Cain Velasquez (34).
Karol Rosa vs. Ailin Perez
Karol Rosa (18-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is 6-2 in UFC women’s bantamweight competition.
Rosa has earned all seven of her UFC victories by decision.
Rosa lands 57.4 percent of her significant strike attempts in UFC women’s bantamweight competition, the third-best rate in divisional history behind Mayra Bueno Silva (64.8 percent) and Yana Santos (58.5 percent).
Rosa lands 7.28 significant strikes per minute in UFC women’s bantamweight competition, the second-highest rate in divisional history behind Leslie Smith (7.69).
Rosa and Irene Aldana combined for 349 significant strikes landed at UFC 296, the single-fight record for a UFC women’s bantamweight fight.
Ailin Perez (11-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) landed 10 takedowns in her victory at UFC on ESPN 49, the single-fight record for a UFC women’s bantamweight fight.
Perez has landed 20 takedowns in UFC women’s bantamweight competition, the third-most in divisional history behind Amanda Nunes (32) and Sara McMann (27).
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.