Islam Makhachev vs Renato Moicano LIVE: UK start time, undercard, location and how to follow UFC 311 tonight
The first major UFC event of 2025 will take place this weekend as Islam Makhachev defends his lightweight title against Renato Moicano. It was meant to be against Arman Tsarukyan, but he pulled out at the last minute due to a back injury, so Moicano has stepped in at short notice. Makhachev is ready for his fourth title defenceGetty Makhachev, who boasts an incredible record of 26-1-0, is now one of the best fighters in the world. The Russian won the lightweight title from Charles Oliveira and defended it three times, twice against Alexander Volkanovski and once against Dustin Poirier last year. He’ll be aiming to defend it yet again and make history against his Brazilian opponent. Moicano is in good form, having won his last four fights in a row. However, he’s had no time to prepare for this bout, meaning it would be one of the biggest UFC shocks if he won. In the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili takes on Umar Nurmagomedov looking to defend his bantamweight crown after winning it off Sean O’Malley. UFC 311: Date and how to follow The main event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. It is still set to go ahead as planned in Los Angeles despite the ongoing concerns regarding the deadly wild fires in the area. The early preliminary card is set to get started at around 11pm UK time before the preliminary fights start at 1am on Sunday morning. The main card should get going at around 3am on Sunday UK time. Fans can watch the preliminary action on the UFC Fight Pass and you can sign up here. The main card will be broadcast on TNT Sports and discovery+. Details on how to sign up can be found here. talkSPORT and talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date with all the action. To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM. Dvalishvili dominated O’Malley to win the bantamweight titleGetty UFC 311: Fight card Main card MAIN EVENT: Islam Makhachev vs Renato Moicano – for UFC lightweight title Merab Dvalishvili vs Umar Nurmagomedov – for UFC bantamweight title Jiri Prochazka vs Jamahal Hill Beneil Darisuh vs Renato Moicano Kevin Holland vs Reinier de Ridder Preliminary card Payton Talbott vs Raoni Barcelos Jailton Almeida vs Serghei Spivac Bogdan Guskov vs. Billy Elekana Grant Dawson vs Carlos Diego Ferreria Early preliminary card Zachary Reese vs Azamat Bekoev Karol Rosa vs Ailin Perez Rinya Nakamura vs Muin Gafurov Ricky Turcios vs Bernardo Sopaj Tagir Ulanbekov vs Clayton Carpenter UFC 311: What has been said? Dana White revealed on Friday that Tsarukyan had pulled out. In a video released on social media, he said: “What’s up, everybody! I have got some breaking news for you this morning. “Around 1am we received a call from Arman Tsarukyan who informed us that he was experiencing significant back pain. “Due to the injury, he feels like he is not healthy enough to compete so he is out of the fight. “Stepping in to face Islam Makhachev for the title will be Renato Moicano. “Moicano has been on a tear since moving up to 155lbs and currently holds the longest active win streak amongst all fighters in the top 10 in the lightweight division. “He has won six of his last seven fights including his last four in a row with three of those coming via finish. “The guy is an absolute savage and every fight he is in is a war. “He weighed in at championship weight to be prepared as the backup fighter in case something happened. “And when we spoke to him this morning I can tell you he wants this fight. “And when I called Islam, Islam said ‘Brother, I am the champion I don’t care who it is I will fight anyone’. “Ladies and gentlemen the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world Islam Makhachev vs Renato Moicano for the lightweight title. “Live tomorrow night from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. I will see you there.”
The first major UFC event of 2025 will take place this weekend as Islam Makhachev defends his lightweight title against Renato Moicano.
It was meant to be against Arman Tsarukyan, but he pulled out at the last minute due to a back injury, so Moicano has stepped in at short notice.
Makhachev, who boasts an incredible record of 26-1-0, is now one of the best fighters in the world.
The Russian won the lightweight title from Charles Oliveira and defended it three times, twice against Alexander Volkanovski and once against Dustin Poirier last year.
He’ll be aiming to defend it yet again and make history against his Brazilian opponent.
Moicano is in good form, having won his last four fights in a row.
However, he’s had no time to prepare for this bout, meaning it would be one of the biggest UFC shocks if he won.
In the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili takes on Umar Nurmagomedov looking to defend his bantamweight crown after winning it off Sean O’Malley.
UFC 311: Date and how to follow
The main event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
It is still set to go ahead as planned in Los Angeles despite the ongoing concerns regarding the deadly wild fires in the area.
The early preliminary card is set to get started at around 11pm UK time before the preliminary fights start at 1am on Sunday morning.
The main card should get going at around 3am on Sunday UK time.
Fans can watch the preliminary action on the UFC Fight Pass and you can sign up here. The main card will be broadcast on TNT Sports and discovery+. Details on how to sign up can be found here.
talkSPORT and talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date with all the action.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
UFC 311: Fight card
Main card
- MAIN EVENT: Islam Makhachev vs Renato Moicano – for UFC lightweight title
- Merab Dvalishvili vs Umar Nurmagomedov – for UFC bantamweight title
- Jiri Prochazka vs Jamahal Hill
- Beneil Darisuh vs Renato Moicano
- Kevin Holland vs Reinier de Ridder
Preliminary card
- Payton Talbott vs Raoni Barcelos
- Jailton Almeida vs Serghei Spivac
- Bogdan Guskov vs. Billy Elekana
- Grant Dawson vs Carlos Diego Ferreria
Early preliminary card
- Zachary Reese vs Azamat Bekoev
- Karol Rosa vs Ailin Perez
- Rinya Nakamura vs Muin Gafurov
- Ricky Turcios vs Bernardo Sopaj
- Tagir Ulanbekov vs Clayton Carpenter
UFC 311: What has been said?
Dana White revealed on Friday that Tsarukyan had pulled out.
In a video released on social media, he said: “What’s up, everybody! I have got some breaking news for you this morning.
“Around 1am we received a call from Arman Tsarukyan who informed us that he was experiencing significant back pain.
“Due to the injury, he feels like he is not healthy enough to compete so he is out of the fight.
“Stepping in to face Islam Makhachev for the title will be Renato Moicano.
“Moicano has been on a tear since moving up to 155lbs and currently holds the longest active win streak amongst all fighters in the top 10 in the lightweight division.
“He has won six of his last seven fights including his last four in a row with three of those coming via finish.
“The guy is an absolute savage and every fight he is in is a war.
“He weighed in at championship weight to be prepared as the backup fighter in case something happened.
“And when we spoke to him this morning I can tell you he wants this fight.
“And when I called Islam, Islam said ‘Brother, I am the champion I don’t care who it is I will fight anyone’.
“Ladies and gentlemen the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world Islam Makhachev vs Renato Moicano for the lightweight title.
“Live tomorrow night from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. I will see you there.”
