With UFC 311 in the books, we're officially off and running for 2025. The card certainly had its share of drama, with Moicano stepping in for Tsarukyan on short notice to face Islam Makhachev. Despite the late change, the main card still delivered some exciting action.

In this newsletter, I'll share all the results from UFC 311. However, I'll be focusing my in-depth analysis on what's next for a few key fighters.

Results

• Islam Makhachev defeats Renato Moicano by submission (D’Arce choke) at 4:05 of Round 1: Moicano stepped up on short notice, but Makhachev's wrestling dominance proved too much to overcome.  

• Merab Dvalishvili defeats Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46): A close battle of grappling specialists, with Dvalishvili's relentless pressure edging out Nurmagomedov's technical skills.  

• Jiří Procházka defeats Jamahal Hill by TKO (strikes) at 3:01 of Round 3: An explosive fight, with Procházka's unorthodox striking ultimately leading to a spectacular TKO finish.  

• Jailton Almeida defeats Serghei Spivac by TKO (strikes) at 4:53 of Round 1

• Reinier de Ridder defeats Kevin Holland by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:31 of Round 1: De Ridder capitalized on Holland's wrestling struggles, securing a first-round submission win.  

• Raoni Barcelos defeats Payton Talbott by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26): A dominant performance by Barcelos, showcasing his well-rounded skillset.  

• Azamat Bekoev defeats Zachary Reese by KO (strikes) at 3:04 of Round 1: A brutal knockout by Bekoev, solidifying his status as a rising prospect.  

• Bogdan Guskov defeats Billy Elekana by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:33 of Round 2: A back-and-forth fight that ended with Guskov securing a submission victory.

• Grant Dawson defeats Diego Ferreira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27): A strategic win for Dawson, showcasing his well-rounded MMA game.  

• Ailin Perez defeats Karol Rosa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27): A close fight, with Perez edging out Rosa in a battle of prospects.  

• Muin Gafurov defeats Rinya Nakamura by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27): A dominant performance by Gafurov, controlling the fight from start to finish.  

• Benardo Sopaj defeats Ricky Turcios by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28): A gritty performance by Sopaj, earning a hard-fought decision win.  

• Tagir Ulanbekov defeats Clayton Carpenter by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28): A technical striking battle that went the distance, with Ulanbekov's accuracy earning him the win.

Whats Next!

Payton Talbott

Payton Talbott entered UFC 311 with a significant amount of hype, but he faced a reality check against the experienced Raoni Barcelos.  Talbott struggled mightily against Barcelos' grappling, finding himself consistently taken down and controlled.  While he showed commendable perseverance in surviving some deep submission attempts, it was a clear learning experience for the young prospec

At just 26 years old, Talbott has plenty of time to improve. Addressing his takedown defense will be crucial for his future success. He needs to refine his entries and be more cautious in his forward movement to prevent opponents from easily securing takedowns. This setback should serve as a valuable lesson for Talbott. He possesses undeniable talent and a bright future, but consistent improvement in his grappling will be key to reaching his full potential

Reinier de Ridder

In my previous newsletter, I discussed some concerns about Reinier de Ridder's UFC debut. However, his dominant performance against Kevin Holland at UFC 311 completely reinvigorated the hype surrounding him. De Ridder showcased his world-class grappling skills, securing a first-round submission and silencing any doubts about his UFC readiness.

With this impressive victory, de Ridder deserves a step up in competition. Given his age and the urgency to capitalize on his prime, a matchup against a top-15 ranked opponent is warranted. A potential clash with Paulo Costa could be a thrilling and highly competitive fight. Costa, currently ranked 11th, possesses explosive power but has faced some recent struggles. A matchup against de Ridder would test both men's strengths and could potentially catapult the winner into title contention

Kevin Holland

It wasn't the best of weeks for Kevin Holland. Following his appearance on the Jaxxon podcast with Rampage Jackson, where some of his comments didn't sit well with the MMA community, he suffered a first-round submission loss to Reinier de Ridder at UFC 311.

While Holland seems eager to fight anyone, anytime, it might be time for him to consider a return to the welterweight division. He's consistently been overpowered at 185 pounds, and a move back down could be the key to unlocking his full potential. At 170, Holland could be more competitive and potentially rediscover the success he enjoyed earlier in his UFC career.

Jiri Procházka

Jiri Procházka delivered a statement performance at UFC 311, finishing Jamahal Hill in the third round with a spectacular display of striking.  This victory was crucial for Procházka, and he looked in top form throughout the fight. His unorthodox style and explosive power were on full display, reminding everyone why he's one of the most exciting fighters in the division

The path to the title shot is a bit murky right now. With the upcoming title fight between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev in March, Procházka's next move will depend on the outcome. If Pereira retains his title, Procházka is likely next in line. However, if Ankalaev emerges victorious, Pereira might get an immediate rematch.

Outside of that, potential opponents for Procházka could include Jan Blachowicz (upon his return from injury) or someone like Khalil Rountree

Jamahal Hill

While the internet likes to clown Jamahal Hill for his reaction to his loss to Pereira, Hill came to play tonight! Yes, he did get finished, but the guy proved he can still hang with the best. Going toe-to-toe with someone like Jiri Procházka is no small feat. Given the loss, I think he still has some potential in the 205 mix. I know I mentioned Khalil Rountree as a potential fight for Jiri, but it really does make way more sense to rebook the Jamahal vs. Khalil fight now more than ever. Outside of that Reyes is back on the rise a bit, could be a great fight for Hill.

Umar Nurmagomedov

As predicted, Merab Dvalishvili's relentless pressure and cardio proved to be a challenge for Umar Nurmagomedov. While Umar showed flashes of brilliance and proved he belongs at the highest level, Dvalishvili's experience and consistent output ultimately secured the victory. Nurmagomedov demonstrated incredible heart and resilience, fighting through adversity, including a broken hand suffered early in the fight. This performance solidified his status as a top contender in the bantamweight division.

Despite the loss, Nurmagomedov's future remains bright. With improved cardio and without the hand injury, the outcome could have been different. A potential next step for Nurmagomedov could be a clash with Petr Yan, a former champion with a proven track record against elite competition. A victory over Yan would firmly establish Nurmagomedov back in title contention.

Merab Dvalishvilli

Merab Dvalishvili delivered a dominant performance, defeating Umar Nurmagomedov and breaking Georges St-Pierre's record for most takedowns in UFC history. His relentless pressure and unmatched cardio proved to be too much for Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili's victory solidified his position as a top contender and potentially even a future champion.

The bantamweight division is stacked with talent, featuring contenders like O'Malley, Nurmagomedov, Yan, and Sandhagen. Dvalishvili, with his current level of dominance, is a force to be reckoned with. He'll now observe the division unfold to determine his next challenge, but it's clear that he's on a trajectory to potentially end his career as one of the best bantamweights of all time.

Renato Moicano

Renato Moicano deserves immense credit for stepping up on short notice to face Islam Makhachev. While the fight didn't go his way, he showed tremendous courage and professionalism in accepting the challenge. Unfortunately, Moicano was submitted by Makhachev via d'arce choke in the first round.  

Despite the loss, Moicano appeared to avoid significant damage. Rebook against Beneil Dariush would be a logical next step. Alternatively, a clash with the explosive Michael Chandler could be a thrilling and high-octane matchup for Moicano.

Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev continues to solidify his position as one of the most dominant forces in the UFC. His submission victory over Renato Moicano showcased his elite grappling skills and suffocating pressure. Makhachev's d'arce choke is a weapon unlike any other, having submitted both Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, both high-level grapplers, with the technique. This speaks volumes about his strength and grappling acumen.

While Islam has expressed interest in a potential matchup with Dricus Du Plessis, a more intriguing and potentially historic clash could be with Ilia Topuria. Topuria is a rising star with elite striking and grappling, and a matchup between these two would undoubtedly be a highlight of any fight card. Islam himself has mentioned his interest in fighting on International Fight Week, and a clash with Topuria would undoubtedly be a massive draw for that prestigious event.