On January 18th, 2025, the co-main event of a stacked UFC 311 will feature undefeated title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov and Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvilli. Umar is coming off an impressive 5 round victory against Cory Sandhagen. The scorecards read 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46, a unanimous victory. Merab on the other hand has steamrolled through the division with 11 straight wins; avenging his teammate Aljamain Sterling’s defeat to Sean O’Malley to capture gold.
Umar versus Merab has drawn the attention of many due to several reasons, the contrast of styles, Merab’s beef with Umar and of course Umar’s last name. Coach Khabib, the cousin of Umar will be in both Islam and Umar’s corners. Team Khabib and AKA are looking to continue their reign of terror in the lower weight classes. Within the MMA community, many believe Umar is the most well-rounded fighter to come out of the Nurmagomedov camp. Merab, a native of similar roots from Georgia is a veteran since December 2017. He has derailed some of the division’s best fighters such as Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo and Sean O’Malley. Merab has seen all styles during his run and is looking to teach Umar Nurmagomedov a lesson on January 18th.
Fighter Profile’s
- Merab Dvalishvilli: Hailed as “The Machine” is known for his relentless pressure, cardio and wrestling base. Some would call his style one dimensional, but we’ve seen similar fighters in the past have great success. Wrestling for a long time has been considered the best base for MMA.
- Umar Nurmagomedov: Undefeated with a record of 18-0. His rise to a title shot may be premature but the skills shown in the octagon are undeniable. Cory Sandhagen was impressive during his mini win streak which showcased his growth as a mixed martial artist. It was a legitimate win; Umar combines traditional Dagestani wrestling with versatile striking. Making him well-rounded.
Fight Dynamic’s
- Grappling: Merab and Umar have strong wrestling backgrounds. Wrestling is Merab’s primary tactic whereas Umar’s wrestling is one of many skills in his arsenal and he has potential to counter or halt Merab’s offense. The grappling will be a significant battle in this matchup because it will dictate where and how this fight will play out.
- Striking: Umar Nurmagomedov is the better striker, if Merab cannot find success with takedowns he will be forced into striking exchanges and the longer the fight stays standing; the more chances Umar will have to control distance with dynamic striking and assert his dominance.
- Cardio and Experience: Both fighters have great conditioning. Merab is a cardio machine, and numerous opponents have wilted under the pressure of Merab’s relentless takedown threat. Out of the last 11 wins, Merab has 10 wins by unanimous decision. This suggests that Umar will be tested on paper.
Generally, most would favour a well-rounded fighter, and the betting odds have indicated that. According to DraftKings sportsbook, Umar currently stands as a -345 favourite against Merab who is a +250 underdog. Merab vs Umar presents unknowns, and many fans are compelled to find out the outcome. In a matchup of this nature, the result depends on the fighter that is best able to impose their strategy.
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