The UFC returns in 2025 with the first numbered card of the year with UFC 311, headlined by a lightweight championship fight between reigning champion Islam Makhachev and number one contender Arman Tsarukyan in a long-awaited rematch.
The two previously met back in 2019 on short notice, with Makhachev claiming a decision win, but the two are now undoubtedly among the very best in the world and will go head-to-head after a full camp to decide who the top dog at 155-pounds is.
The co-main event will see the bantamweight championship defended as Merab Dvalishvili puts his 135-pound belt on the line against number one contender Umar Nurmagomedov in what is sure to be a blockbuster night of fights to kick off the new year.
We'll take a look at the clash and provide you with our best free UFC betting picks, as we look to earn you some extra cash while you take in the action from inside the octagon.
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UFC 311 information
- Saturday, January 18th 2025
- Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California
- Undisputed Lightweight Championship (155lbs limit)
- 5 x 5 minute rounds
- 22:00 ET main card start time
Islam Makhachev v Arman Tsarukyan
Widely considered as the number one fighter in the world right now pound-for-pound, Makhachev comes into this fight chasing history as he looks to become the first UFC fighter to defend the lightweight championship four times.
With a professional record of 26-1, including 12 wins by submission, the Dagestani native is currently on a sensational 14-fight winning streak - which includes a win against his next opponent. A fight with Tsarukyan in 2019 was put together on short-notice and while Makhachev got the win many believe it was one of the toughest tests of his career to date.
Since then he has won nine more fights, with seven finishes including first-round submission wins over Dan Hooker and Bobby 'King' Green to earn a title fight. In that bout he submitted Charles Oliveira in the second round to claim the belt, and has since gone on to defeat Alexander Volkanovski twice - once via violent head-kick - and Dustin Poirier most recently via submission in the final round of a back-and-forth war.
Tsarukyan recovered from that defeat to Makhachev by going on a big five-fight win streak against Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Davi Ramos, Matt Frevola, Christos Giagos and Joel Alvarez. His first main-event saw him suffer a loss against Mateusz Gamrot on the judges scorecards, but he hasn't lost since then.
He recovered with a decision win over Damir Ismagulov, before stopping Joaquim Silva in the third-round. He then knocked out Beneil Dariush in just 64 seconds, before a decision victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 last time out to earn his title shot.
Tsarukyan comes into this bout with a professional record of 22-3, including nine wins by knockout and five submissions.
Route to victory
This is going to be a big clash between two top fighters with similar stylistic approaches, who are right at the top of their game currently.
Makhachev is best known for his fantastic grappling abilities, stemming from the Dagestan region and under the tutelage of legendary former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. But it's also becoming more clear in recent bouts that his striking is also excellent and his kickboxing game from a southpaw stance makes him very dangerous even when the fight is standing.
Tsarukyan is also from the school of wrestling-heavy-styled fighting, but his powerful hands and good boxing mean he is also someone who is a threat wherever the fight goes. The first fight between the two showed a lot, and this is likely to go similarly just at an even higher level.
That bout saw Makhachev control the ground game when he was able to get the fight to the mat, but Tsarukyan was able to stuff several attempts and landed 66% of his strikes on the feet while also landing a takedown of his own. Tsarukyan must continue to land on the feet but find a way to stay off his back, while Makhachev will be keen to make this fight business as usual with forward pressure and controlling where the fight takes place.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
UFC Picks: Makhachev to retain the belt
As good as Tsarukyan is, there are levels in mixed martial arts and there may not be anyone in the world occupying at a higher frequency than Makhachev right now.
On the ground he is simply unmatched and the likelihood that Tsarukyan will have been able to close the gap in their grappling since the first fight is slim, while the champion has got even better on the feet since then.
His championship experience will likely play a part in this too and he will get stronger as the fight goes on, and Tsarukyan will know his best chance of success will come early in the bout. The chance of a finish is slim in this one just because of how good both men are, but Makhachev should have enough about him to be able to earn a comfortable decision victory to become the most dominant UFC lightweight champion in history.
Check out our review for Bovada sports betting here.
