Umar Nurmagomedov gave everything he had in his quest for the bantamweight title at UFC 311 but fell just short against the relentless Merab Dvalishvili. The Dagestani fighter showcased his world-class skill set early, securing the first two rounds on two judges’ scorecards. However, Dvalishvili’s unrelenting pressure and cardio proved too much as he turned the tide in the later rounds, dominating the fight and leaving Umar visibly fatigued.
From the corner, Khabib Nurmagomedov could only watch as his cousin struggled to regain control in the championship rounds. The victory extended Dvalishvili’s incredible winning streak to twelve fights, solidifying his status as one of the most dominant forces in the bantamweight division. Despite his apparent invincibility, Sean O’Malley’s team believes they have the tools to halt Dvalishvili’s momentum and reclaim the title spotlight.
Tim Welch reveals the mantra to slay Merab Dvalishvili
What truly seemed to overwhelm Umar was Merab Dvalishvili’s incredible cardio, which lived up to its legendary reputation. By the third round, Umar appeared drained, while Dvalishvili remained as energetic as ever. Fatigue, they say, can break even the toughest fighters—but not Umar. He continued to battle with heart and determination until the very end. However, the Georgian was simply the better fighter on the night.
Former 135lbs champ Sean O’Malley and his team were present in the arena and witnessed the masterclass right in front of their eyes. O’Malley is currently recovering from a hip injury and will make a return to the Octagon soon. While there has been no announcement of his next fight, he will most likely take on ‘The Machine’ in a rematch from their initial title encounter at UFC 306. And this time, O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch feels he needs to be fully fit and needs a good game plan to cause any damage to the champion.
Welch took to his YouTube channel to analyze the fights in the event. While he was impressed with all of them, Dvalishvili caught his attention for valid reasons. While speaking on the channel he said, “Merabi is on a streak. I tell you what gets it done decision. Five rounds versus Umar. Umar came out there and stayed mostly South Paw was throwing some sharp one-twos at the beginning and looking sharp. And Merab, fourth fifth round just started taking over.”
However, he did take time to remind everyone that O’Malley could defeat the reigning champion, “He’s [Merab] a problem he’s a big problem. But I do believe that we [Team O’Malley] could be the Kryptonite to Merab with the right game plan and a good fight camp with Suga healthy I think we take him out and we will find out now won’t we?”
After UFC 311, Dvalishvili has once again proved that sheer will and work ethic is the key to success. However, success always comes with sacrifices and it seems the champion faced a lot in the build-up to this clash. Let’s take a closer look!
Merab Dvalishvili opens up on the injuries he faced before UFC 311
Merab Dvalishvili stole the show at UFC 311, handing Umar Nurmagomedov the maiden loss of his career and snapping his impressive 18-fight unbeaten streak. This win not only halted Umar’s dominance but also served as a blow to the pride of Khabib Nurmagomedov, who has often praised the unmatched caliber of Dagestani wrestling. Khabib once confidently stated, “In the UFC, Umar will soon be the second one…[second Nurmagomedov to win a UFC title]. When it comes to MMA, Dagestan, Russia, we’re on a different level.”
However, while Dvalishvili’s triumph was monumental, it didn’t come without a personal cost. The Georgian entered the fight, nursing a severe injury—a persistent shin wound that he sustained a month prior. While speaking to Megan Olivi during the post-fight interview, Merab pointed out how he battled the pain. He said, “I don’t have my phone with me, but I’ll maybe post a picture later. Back in November, I got big cuts on my legs, and they just started healing up around Wednesday…The cuts got infected, and every time someone touched me or I was wrestling or kicking, it was really painful.”
Despite the injury, Merab Dvalishvili now takes great satisfaction as he registered his first UFC title defense. How highly do you rate Dvalishvili’s performance at UFC 311?