UFC 311: Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2: Fight card, date, odds, rumors, location, complete guide. Crackstreams UFC 311 is the first pay-per-view of 2025 could be the best of the year
Event: UFC 311: “Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2”
Date: Sat., Jan. 18, 2025
Location: Intuit Dome in Inglewood (Los Angeles), California
Start times: ESPN+ PPV, ESPNN, Disney+, ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET Prelims | 10 p.m. ET Main Card)
Islam Makhachev defends his UFC lightweight title in the main event of the upcoming UFC 311 fight card. His opponent in that scrap is a man he faces in 2019, Arman Sarukian. Makhachev won that fight, Sarukian’s UFC debut, by unanimous decision. Each man in the contest earned a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus. Makhachev is approaching the rematch as an opportunity to answer any questions that may have lingered from his first meeting with Sarukian.
UFC 311, the first pay-per-view card on the UFC’s 2025 schedule, takes place on January 18, 2025 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The pay-per-view portion of the event begins at 10:00 p.m. A. ET on ESPN+ PPV, followed by prelims at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN. ET and Early Prelims ET on ESPN+ at 6:00 p.m
“Honestly, I like to fight a second time because, when I fight someone a second time, I know everything my opponent can do and it won’t be a surprise for me,” Makhachev told UFC. rematch
“The first fight, he (Sarukian) saved my wrestling. He’s tough, that’s why he gave me a hard time,” Makhachev said.
“But now I know everything he can do.”
Tsarukyan hasn’t finished since Alexander Belykh knocked him out in 2015. It was Tsarukyan’s second fight as a professional. In his most recent bout, former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira registered four submission attempts against Tsarukyan (22-3), but was unable to finish.
Makhachev thinks he can do what no one in the UFC has been able to do, stop Tsarukyan in the Octagon.
“Charles, nearly finished him off in every round. Some did the guillotine, some did the triangle choke. Everything was very close, but I think I have more chances (to finish him).
“I like to finish old questions,” said Makhachev.
“When I fought (Alex) Volkanovsky, I told everyone I had to finish the questions and finish him. That’s why, with the second fight, I was looking for the end, so that everyone would shut up.”
Makhachev (26-1) is coming off a submission win at UFC 302 against former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier. He is undefeated in his past 14 fights and is looking for a record UFC lightweight title defense at UFC 311.
When these two first looked at each other across the octagon, Makhachev was 16-1 overall and 4-1 in the UFC. As for Tsarukyan, he had an overall mark of 13-1 and was making his UFC debut.
When these two first looked at each other across the octagon, Makhachev was 16-1 overall and 4-1 in the UFC. As for Tsarukyan, he had an overall mark of 13-1 and was making his UFC debut. Tsarukyan looked to establish his strikes and distance himself with quick kicks from Makhachev, but the two quickly went into a wrestling battle, both fighters working well with pressure against the fence before Makhachev scored a nifty takedown that landed him on his back. But he returned to his feet without accepting the post.
Tsarukyan then responded with a takedown of his own, but like Makhachev, he was unable to establish a ground position before his opponent landed on his feet. The two exchanged head kick attempts from distance to open the second stanza. As in the first round, two mixed takedown attempts with their striking got the best of those attempts with Makhachev chain wrestling and relentless attacks. Once on the mat, Sarukian looked for a kimura but couldn’t set up a submission attempt. Tsarukyan then returned to his feet, and engaged in battle against the fence for the remainder of the two rounds.
The third round mirrored the first 10 minutes of the contest, with both men active in the striking department before returning to their wrestling. As in the first two rounds, Makhachev had more success with two takedowns and 2:31 of regulation time.
The fast-paced 15-minute bout went to Makhachev by scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28. The contest took “Fight of the Night” honors and established both men as potential title contenders. The UFC commentary team, who had never seen Tsarukyan in the Octagon, were especially impressed with his efforts in his UFC debut.
Makhachev finished the bout four for nine with takedown attempts, landing 47 of 53 total strikes. He added 6:06 in regulation time. Meanwhile, Tsarukyan landed 60 of 90 total strikes and one takedown in 12 attempts, while clocking up 1:47 of regulation time. No man logged a submission or a reversal.
Revisiting their first meeting, it wouldn’t be surprising to see these two moving things into a title fight in 2024.
UFC 311 Main Event Opening Odds: Islam Makhachev Vs. Arman Sarukian
UFC 311 press conference
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 06: (L-R) Opponents Islam Makhachev and Arman Sarukian of Russia … [+]Jufa LLC
According to BetOnline, Makhachev opened as the betting favorite in this rematch, opening at -255, while Tsarukyan was a +215 betting underdog.
Finishing odds for their first fight saw Makhachev enter the Octagon as a -300 betting favorite over +240 Sarukian.
We’ll have more on UFC 311: Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Sarukian as fight night approaches.
UFC 311 PPV Main Event on ESPN+ PPV:
155 lbs.: UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan
UFC 311 PPV Main Card on ESPN+ PPV:
135 lbs.: UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
265 lbs.: Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac
205 lbs.: Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill
185 lbs.: Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder
UFC 311 ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPNN/Disney+/ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):
135 lbs.: Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafurov
205 lbs.: Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov
135 lbs.: Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Perez
185 lbs.: Zach Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas
UFC 311 Early ‘Prelims’ Card on Disney+/ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET):
135 lbs.: Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos
135 lbs.: Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopai
155 lbs.: Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira