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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mike Bohn

Deiveson Figueiredo thinks Merab Dvalishvili’s confusing style key vs. Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311

Deiveson Figueiredo sees Merab Dvalishvili pulling off an upset title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov in the first UFC title bout of 2025.

Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) will put his bantamweight strap up for grabs against the unbeaten Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 311 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place Jan. 18 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.

Although he’s the reigning champion on a 12-fight winning streak inside the octagon, Dvalishvili finds himself as the betting underdog to Nurmagomedov at UFC 311. There is much hype around Nurmagomedov’s potential greatness, but 135-pound contender Figueiredo (24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC) expects the belt to stay put.

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