Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his bantamweight championship at UFC 311, defeating previously undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision. The 34-year-old Georgian fighter outlanded Nurmagomedov in total strikes and surpassed Georges St-Pierre’s record for career takedowns inside the Octagon.
Nurmagomedov was a significant betting favorite, but Dvalishvili’s pace proved to be his best weapon in the five-round fight. Despite falling behind early and suffering an injury that forced him to slow down, Dvalishvili’s volume started to wear on Nurmagomedov, allowing him to secure his victory in the final minute.
Dvalishvili’s experience in elite fights played a key role in his win, as he dominated Nurmagomedov late. The Georgian fighter attributed his success to his hard work and training, saying he was “proud of himself” and felt like he could retire happy.
The defeat marks the first loss for Nurmagomedov, who had been undefeated until the fight. Dvalishvili’s victory solidifies his position as one of the top bantamweight fighters in the world, and sets him up as a potential title challenger in the future.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/43474199/dvalishvili-closes-style-edge-nurmagomedov-ufc-311