UFC 311 video: Merab Dvalishvili, Umar Nurmagomedov go face-to-face

LAS VEGAS – After a heated backstage altercation that required security intervention, the two participants in the UFC 311 co-main event were able to ease their tensions for their first official faceoff Friday.

At a news conference at MGM Grand Garden Arena, champion Merab Dvalishvili and rival Umar Nurmagomedov stole the show on the mic before they partook in a faceoff. The fight takes place Jan. 18 as the UFC 311 co-headliner at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.

The booking came as a surprise to many as Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) and Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) seemed to be on different timelines for return. Additionally, Dvalishvili for weeks had indicated he wanted a rematch with Sean O’Malley or Petr Yan instead. However, the UFC got the booking done, as a compliment to the card’s main event of lightweight champion Islam Makhachev vs. challenger Arman Tsarukyan.

Security and UFC CEO Dana White were on high alert for the first Merab Dvalishvili vs Umar Nurmagomedov faceoff before #UFC311. pic.twitter.com/u8NR1RExu8

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 6, 2024

Check out Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov’s faceoff in the video above and check out a gallery of photos below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.