Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov, UFC 311 ceremonial weigh-in Credit score: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press
Bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili and unbeaten Dagestani Umar Nurmagomedov noticed their grudge match lastly play out within the co-main occasion of UFC 311 on Saturday.
Profiting from the huge screens on the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the UFC really spruced up the walkouts a bit, giving every fighter their very own graphics- with Merab’s machine-inspired to match his nickname.
THE MACHINE ON THE BIG SCREEN 🇬🇪
With three undefeated fighters in Clayton Carpenter, Rinya Nakamura, and Payton Talbott shedding their 0s earlier within the evening, Nurmagomedov was seeking to buck the development.
Regardless of the heated build-up to the battle, with Nurmagomedov calling Dvalishvili a “paper champ,” and the champ shedding his cool and claiming the challenger was disrespectful, there was a glove contact to begin the battle. As soon as it acquired underway, there was a little bit of a sense out process- neither man opted to cost in recklessly, and for good cause.
As a substitute, there have been quite a lot of fanned kicks, and a gulf of house between them. That lastly modified 90 seconds in, with Nurmagomedov touchdown first. However as they got here collectively moments later, it was the champ touchdown.
Nail-biter might need been one of the best ways to explain the early minutes of the UFC 311 co-main occasion. Dvalishvili would join with an overhand proper, maintaining Nurmagomedov on his toes. He punched his means right into a clinch, and when the takedown wasn’t there, Merab opted to go to the physique just a few occasions.
Settling down, Nurmagomedov discovered his vary, shot in on a single-leg takedown try, and when stuffed, chased after the champ with a leap knee. Dvalishvili escaped; they’d clinch with a minute left, however neither man had the higher hand. Nurmagomedov’s kicks, and left hand, started to seek out their mark, and late within the spherical, Umar landed a proper as nicely that despatched Dvalishvili backpedaling.
That last important strike in spherical one might need moved the needle to Umar by way of profitable the spherical. Spherical two noticed the champ go on the assault, solely to get clipped by a few counters. Dvalishvili held his personal, but it surely was Nurmagomedov touchdown a left in tight. Dvalishvili then ducked down, pondering takedown, however that was simply stuffed.
Again at heart, simply over three minutes on the clock in spherical two, and Dvalishvili grabbed a leg. Umar sprawled, scrambled, and wound up taking the again, one hook in after an outstanding reversal. The champ escaped, nevertheless, again to his toes no worse for the damage. Merab would hearth an overhand then shut the gap moments later, just for Nurmagomedov to battle him off. Nurmagomedov then tried his personal takedown try, with Merab defending. A single-leg by Merab, and Umar pulled free. Dvalishvili then pressed, swinging, modified ranges, and regarded for a takedown, however Nurmagomedov once more confirmed glorious takedown protection.
Spherical three opened with a single-leg try by Merab. It was briefly landed, however Umar scrambled free, they usually reset at heart. A spinning again fist by Merab missed, then each males landed counters in an trade. Dvalishvili continued to arrange takedown entries together with his palms, which had Nurmagomedov biting on the feints. Dvalishvili then stuffed a takedown, and dumped Umar on his again a second later. Ninety seconds left, and Dvalishvili landed a takedown, just for Nurmagomedov to raise him together with his legs, roll by, and are available up in management – although Merab reversed, whereas chatting with the UFC broadcast crew.
Critically.
On the finish of the spherical, Nurmagomedov placed on a physique lock from behind, however struggled to take Dvalishvili down. The champ held out his palms, showboating a bit earlier than Nurmagomedov accomplished the try. No time was left to work, nevertheless.
Forward of the championship rounds, Dvalishvili’s nook urged him to push the tempo. Nurmagomedov’s nook, in the meantime, urged him to not dip his head when Dvalishvili timed his entries. And to begin spherical 4, it was Dvalishvili doing simply that, engaged on one other takedown try, then one other. The second landed. A 3rd adopted. 90 seconds in, and Merab had shot for 3 takedowns, and landed two. But once more, Nurmagomedov made it again up. He fired a excessive kick, however fell quick. Then shot for a takedown of his personal, however was too far out.
The champ, in the meantime, went to the physique of a tiring Umar Nurmagomedov. An trade noticed each males land. Nurmagomedov fought off one other takedown. A proper hand landed for the champ. Then again to the physique went Merab. Nurmagomedov grabbed a leg, and Dvalishvili primarily simply walked away from the challenger. Nurmagomedov wound up with a high-crotch single, with Merab defending with ease. Nurmagomedov gave the impression to be draining. Merab punched in, and landed essentially the most definitive takedown of the battle, with 30 seconds on the clock. “The Machine,” nicely named, was placing on the machine-like tempo as solely he might.
After 4 rounds, there was a really robust argument that the battle was tied two rounds a chunk. 5 minutes or much less for glory lay forward. Dvalishvili was clearly lighter on his toes twenty minutes in. He fanned on a again fist. Then modified ranges for a takedown that was fought off. Merab landed a leg kick, inside first, then one other to the skin. A takedown try adopted, stuffed. Then one other. Then a 3rd, off a proper hand. Nurmagomedov was nonetheless standing, however 90 seconds had ticked off the clock. A fourth takedown try by the champ put Nurmagomedov on the fence. Once more, the challenger stayed standing.
Close to the halfway mark of the ultimate spherical, it was Umar capturing for a takedown. That was stuffed. Each males landed a punch in an trade. Nurmagomedov went to the physique with a kick. Then it was Dvalishvili in on one other takedown try, and one other nonetheless, chaining them collectively. Nurmagomedov discovered house for a kick. Within the last minute, Dvalishvili landed a proper hand, then dumped Nurmagoemdov, taking part in it as much as the group. One other takedown landed, and this time, Merab had the again, by Umar made it up – solely to be taken down once more! That took them to the bell, with Merab Dvalishvili turning into the primary man to take down Umar Nurmagomedov within the UFC – and the primary man to defeat him, ever.
Merab Dvalishvili thanked his house nation of Georgia, his adopted nation of America, and informed followers to imagine in themselves after retaining his title. Nurmagomedov, in the meantime, will nearly actually work his means again to the highest within the not too distant future, and an eventual rematch could be a welcome growth.
Official Outcome: Merab Dvalishvili def. Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous determination (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
