The UFC’s first Pay-Per-View event of 2025 arrives this weekend, with two title fights set for UFC 311 against the backdrop of a fire-ravaged Los Angeles area.
For several days, there were questions as to whether the card (technically held in Inglewood) would even more forward as planned. A shift to Las Vegas was not out of the question. However, with some luck, the event was able to stay put, along with a number of NBA games, bringing a little bit of normalcy back amongst the devastation.
The card itself, meanwhile, features two title fights including the first bantamweight title defense of Merab Dvalishvili in the co-main event. That fight, against Umar Nurmagomedov, has become a grudge match, with the champion taking umbrage against Umar’s “easy” (in his opinion) path to a title shot, and various jabs the challenger has taken on social media.
The build-up to Islam Makhachev versus Arman Tsarukyan 2 in the main event has been a little calmer. Tsarukyan gets his first shot at gold in a rematch, with Makhachev winning the pair’s first fight. That, however, was Tsarukyan’s introduction to the UFC, a very difficult debut, and both men have developed considerably in the years since.
On Thursday, January 16, 2025 the promotion will host the UFC 311 pre-fight press conference in L.A., getting underway at 6PM PT, 9AM ET. A live stream is available above.