UFC 311: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Prediction for Today, 01/18/25

The Co-Main Event at UFC 311 will see Merab Dvalishvili take on Umar Nurmagomedov. This will be a fight in the UFC Bantamweight division and for the UFC Bantamweight title. Nurmagomedov enters this fight with an MMA record of 18-0 and 6-0 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.46 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 63%. Nurmagomedov absorbs 1.36 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 63%. His grappling has also been elite, averaging 3.98 takedowns per 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 50% and his takedown defense is 100%.

Dvalishvili enters this fight with an MMA record of 18-4 and 11-2 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.35 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 42%. Dvalishvili is absorbing 2.31 strikes and has a striking defense of 56%. His grappling is elite, however, averaging 6.09 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 36% and a takedown defense of 80%.

Nurmagomedov is the clear favorite, so instead we will be looking at how Nurmagomedov might win. He has won 3 of his last 4 UFC fights by decision, while Dvalishvili has only lost by finish once in his UFC career. Based on the fact that Dvalishvili rarely loses by finish and Nurmagomedov has mostly won by decision recently, backing him to do so in this fight will be our best bet.