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After a 2024 that featured many UFC title challenges, the first champions to put their belt up for grabs this year were successful in defending them at UFC 311.
In the main event, lightweight Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) submitted Renato Moicano (20-6-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) in the first round at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., while in the co-headliner, Merab Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) turned back the previously unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) by unanimous decision to defend his bantamweight strap.