UFC 311: Full Main Card Breakdown, Preview & Betting Tips | 2025

Reigning bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will attempt to defend his crown against undefeated challenger Umar Nurmagomedov at the Intuit Dome in California this Saturday night for the UFC 311 co-main event.

Other main card highlights include a title eliminator at light heavyweight between Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill and a fun heavyweight matchup between Jalton Almeida and Serghei Spivac.

Read on for BettingSites’s fight previews and top UFC betting tips.

Islam Makhachev vs Renato Moicano

Islam Machachev vs Renato Moicano

The UFC 311 main event is has been flipped on its head in the 12th hour with Arman Tsarukyan pulling out of the lightweight title fight. Renato Moicano is set to step in and face Islam Makhachev. See our Makhachev vs Moicano betting preview here.

Merab Dvalishvili v Umar Nurmagomadov

Merab Dvalishvili vs Umar Nurmagomadov

Merab Dvalishvili (18-4-0) secured the bantamweight crown with a comprehensive win over Sean O’Malley in September 2024 and now faces his first title defence. The 34-year-old is riding a staggering 11 fight win streak having cleaned out most of the division during his rise through the ranks. The champion applies relentless pressure to opponents, shooting for takedowns and dominating for long periods from top position. It is almost inconceivable that Dvalishvili enters this matchup as a rank outsider with betting markets and he represents extraordinary value at his current quote with leading UFC bookmakers.

Umar Nurmagomadov (18-0-0) made his impressive UFC debut in 2021 with a rapid submission win over Sergey Morozov. The 29-year-old has since won five straight bouts, and now appears a worthy contender for the 135-pound silverware. Nurmagomadov is also a high-volume fighter who sets a fast pace that can break less conditioned opponents. The majority of his wins have come via the scorecards, and this bout seems destined to last the distance and be decided by accumulated activity and real-time strategic adjustments.

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Jiri Prochazka v Jamahal Hill

Jiri Prochazka vs Jamahal Hill

Jiri Prochazka (30-5-1) landed the UFC light heavyweight belt in 2022 with a wild, back-and-forth victory over Glover Teixeira. He then relinquished the title due to injury before losing to current champ Alex Pereira on return to competition. The 32-year-old again had no answers to the striking brilliance of Pereira in June 2024 when knocked by a clean head kick and follow-up punches. Prochazka can be a little lax defensively and must banish the mental demons associated with recent knockout losses if he hopes to again contend for the 205-pound title.

Jamahal Hill (12-2-0) brings similar form into this contest and is also coming off a devastating knockout loss to Alex Pereira. The 33-year-old claimed the vacant light heavyweight crown in 2023 before a lengthy injury kept him sidelined and out of competition. Hill is a powerful striker with seven knockout wins on his record and is slightly favoured to bounce back in this evenly matched contest and press for another shot at UFC gold.

Jailton Almeida vs Serghei Spivac

Jailton Almedia vs Serghei Spivac

Jailton Almeida (21-3) continues to rise through the heavyweight ranks, aiming to secure a statement win against Serghei Spivac at UFC 311. Almeida bounced back from a loss to Curtis Blaydes in early 2024 with a first-round submission victory over Alexandr Romanov. Known for his elite grappling, Almeida boasts an average of 6.85 takedowns landed per 15 minutes, showcasing his ability to dominate on the ground. With 20 finishes in his career, including 13 by submission, the Brazilian’s efficient fight-ending skills make him the -454.55 Marantelli Bet favourite in this clash.

Serghei Spivac (17-4), nicknamed “The Polar Bear,” looks to build momentum after a revenge victory against Marcin Tybura. Spivac is no stranger to quick finishes, with four wins in his last five fights ending inside the distance. The Moldovan has proven himself a threat on the ground, averaging 4.63 takedowns per 15 minutes, but faces a significant challenge in Almeida’s dynamic wrestling and submission arsenal. As a +340 underdog, Spivac aims to defy the odds and claim a signature win.

Expect an action-packed fight where Almeida’s superior grappling and ability to finish fights make him the likely winner by stoppage, keeping his heavyweight title aspirations alive.

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Kevin Holland vs Reinier de Ridder

Kevin Holland vs Reinier de Ridder

Kevin Holland (26-12-0) has failed to impress in his last four appearances, returning one win and three losses. The 32-year-old is an enigmatic athlete who can appear disinterested and distracted during his bouts, despite possessing the necessary skills to compete with almost any opponent. Holland is coming off a disappointing first round TKO loss to Roman Dolidze. The American suffering a rib injuring while rolling on the mat and was unable to return for second round action but should be fit and ready to hit back here.

Reinier de Ridder (18-2-0) made his UFC debut in November 2024, earning a third round submission win over Gerald Meerschaert. The 34-year-old is a former titleholder with One Championship and looks a readymade potential contender with the premier MMA promotion. The Dutch fighter can wilt somewhat toward the end of his fights and is a slight BetOnline betting favourite here while punters monitor his adjustment to sterner competition.

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