The UFC kicks off the new year with a pay-per-view that will be tough to beat. UFC 311 Capped With Two Tremendous Title Fights: UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan and bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov.
What makes UFC 311 even better is that it’s not exclusively a top heavy card. Every UFC 311 main card fight, as well as several preliminary bouts, are worth watching. The official UFC rankings will experience upheavals in several divisions thanks to quality matchmaking.
From Jamahal Hill vs. Jiri Prochazka on the main card to appearances from emerging prospects Payton Talbott and Rinya Nakamura, take a look at three of Saturday’s must-see non-title fights and honorable mentions.
Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill
Hill and Prochazka find themselves in a difficult situation. A fight between two former UFC champions – ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the light heavyweight rankings – is a title eliminator by most standards. But Hill and Prochazka are fighting for relevance after decisive defeats to defending champion Alex Pereira. It’s still an important fight. Saturday’s winner can quickly build momentum in a weight class with few viable contenders. Prochazka and Hill are among the most potent offensive forwards in the division. That’s especially true for Prochazka, who has only gone the distance in two of his 36 professional fights. Don’t blink or you might miss a knockout.
“I see that his ground game is not very good. He throws very few punches and creates few moments…” Prochazka said CBS Sports. “I’m evolving (my grappling). It’s not about stand-up, wrestling, ground game or jiu-jitsu. It’s about putting them together into one. That’s what I do it with my style.”
Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
Two top 10 lightweights face off on the same card as Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2. Dariush (No. 2) and Moicano (No. 10) are elite grapplers who produce action fights. Dariush was on the verge of his first shot at the lightweight title before being stopped by Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira. These were disappointing results for Dariush, who almost retired before unleashing a career-changing eight-fight winning streak. Moicano is reinventing his own career. The 10-year UFC veteran is on the best winning streak of his career, stopping three of his last four opponents, including Benoit Saint Denis and Jalin Turner. A title shot isn’t on the line, but the winner will be well-positioned for an important follow-up fight.
“When Moicano fought Brad Riddell, he looked super sharp and fast with his strikes,” Dariush said CBS Sports. “In the last two fights, he was able to defeat these guys and do a lot of damage. He has many paths to victory.”
Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder
If you like clashes of styles, this fight is for you. Holland and de Ridder specialize in striking and grappling, respectively. Every man fights where his opponent shines. Holland is a very capable offensive submission artist, but his takedown and submission defense leave something to be desired. De Ridder, a former two-division ONE Championship titleholder, is a submission phenom, but his striking defense and offensive takedowns left a lot to be desired against Gerald Meerschaert. There is a very fun factor in this one.
“Looking back, I gave (Meerschaert) a little too much respect,” by Ridder said CBS Sports. “It was important to finally be able to fight in the UFC and I tried to soak it all in. But for the next one, it’s just business. I’m going to chase this guy and I’m going to knock him out a lot faster and much easier than I did with Gerald.
Honorable mentions: Payton Talbott Vs. Raoni Barcelos, Rinya Nakamura Vs. Muin Gafourov
