Umar Nurmagomedov to Face Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311

Umar Nurmagomedov, set to challenge bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311 on January 18, 2025, revealed that he accepted the fight while recovering from a broken arm sustained in Dagestan. Despite concerns from his manager Ali Abdelaziz about his fitness, Nurmagomedov insisted on competing, emphasizing his desire to fight during Ramadan. He acknowledged trash-talking Dvalishvili to secure a title shot but denied any disrespect, suggesting the champion was avoiding him. Nurmagomedov also expressed that he considers Cory Sandhagen his toughest challenge in the division, not Dvalishvili. With Nurmagomedov being a -345 favorite, his admission about the injury may provide Dvalishvili an opportunity to exploit a potential weakness in their upcoming bout. The UFC has yet to comment on Nurmagomedov's fitness status ahead of the event.