Inside the stunning Intuit Dome, the UFC 311 prelims served as a delicious appetizer for the pay-per-view main event that is set to follow, with the action getting increasingly exciting as we progressed through the card.
Opening with a series of decisions, including Grant Dawson registering the biggest win of his professional career, Bogdan Guskov and Azamat Bekoev turned in back-to-back finishes before Raoni Barcelos and Payton Talbott closed things out with an entertaining battle in the bantamweight division.
An outstanding collection of fights on paper heading into the evening, the opening slate delivered, ratcheting up the anticipation for the main card and giving fans plenty to talk about to kick off the evening.
Here’s a look at what transpired.
Main event and co-main event scheduled for five rounds. All other bouts scheduled for three rounds.
Main Card Results | Official Scorecards
UFC 311: Makhachev vs Moicano Results
- Islam Makhachev defeats Renato Moicano by submission (D’Arce choke) at 4:05 of Round 1
- Merab Dvalishvili defeats Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
- Jiří Procházka defeats Jamahal Hill by TKO (strikes) at 3:01 of Round 3
- Jailton Almeida defeats Serghei Spivac by TKO (strikes) at 4:53 of Round 1
- Reinier de Ridder defeats Kevin Holland by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:31 of Round 1
- Raoni Barcelos defeats Payton Talbott by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
- Azamat Bekoev defeats Zachary Reese by KO (strikes) at 3:04 of Round 1
- Bogdan Guskov defeats Billy Elekana by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:33 of Round 2
- Grant Dawson defeats Diego Ferreira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Ailin Perez defeats Karol Rosa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Muin Gafurov defeats Rinya Nakamura by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Benardo Sopaj defeats Ricky Turcios by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Tagir Ulanbekov defeats Clayton Carpenter by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
UFC 311: Makhachev vs Moicano Prelim Results
Tagir Ulanbekov defeats Clayton Carpenter by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
UFC 311 opened with ranked veteran Tagir Ulanbekov facing off with unbeaten Dana White’s Contender Series grad Clayton Carpenter in a competitive battle in the flyweight division.

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Ulanbekov leaned on his grappling throughout the contest, controlling large portions of the opening frame from top position, landing solid shots before finding a similar position, but less success in the back half of the second and third. Carpenter had his moments off his back in the first and on top in the second, but was never able to build enough consistent, significant momentum to truly threaten the Top 15 fixture.
The fight went the distance, with all three judges scoring the fight in favor of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov disciple. Ulanbekov has now won three straight and five of six inside the Octagon, cementing his place in the rankings and adding him to the growing list of streaking talents looking to make waves in the 125-pound ranks in 2025.
Benardo Sopaj defeats Ricky Turcios by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
In his first full-camp appearance inside the Octagon, Benardo Sopaj showed he’s a promising addition to the bantamweight division, out-working TUF winner Ricky Turcios to register his first UFC victory.

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The 24-year-old from Albania showed elements of a complete skill set, mixing his weapons and targets, defending takedowns well, and having positive moments in the grappling interactions as well. Turcios was dogged in his pursuit of his young foe, pressing from the outset and showing greater offensive urgency than he had in any previous outings, but was simply unable to manufacture enough meaningful offense to swing things in his favor. Early in the third, Sopaj stung and busted up Turcios, but the Houston native managed to survive and make it to the final horn.
Sopaj swept the scorecards, advancing to 12-3 with the victory, while Turcios fell to 12-4 with his second straight loss and third defeat in his last four fights.
Main Card Results | Official Scorecards
Muin Gafurov defeats Rinya Nakamura by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Muin Gafurov carried over the form that produced his first UFC win last year on Saturday, handing Rinya Nakamura the first loss of his professional career.

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The experienced hand from Tajikistan stung Nakamura in both the first and second rounds, taking advantage of his tendency to keep his head on the center line by connecting with heavy overhand blows that put the unbeaten Japanese prospect on the deck. He remained on-point throughout the third, sitting Nakamura down almost immediately, backing him up with a side kick to the body, and generally dominating the striking exchanges.
While Nakamura had a brief period of control on the canvas in the third, this was an outstanding performance from Gafurov from the jump. After dropping his first two UFC appearances, the 28-year-old has now earned consecutive victories to establish himself as a dark horse in the talent-rich bantamweight division.
Ailin Perez defeats Karol Rosa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Ailin Perez and Karol Rosa continued the trend of fights going the full allotted time, pairing off for a low-output, tactical scrap in the bantamweight division to close out the UFC 311 early prelims.

Perez did well to utilize her wrestling at opportune times, changing levels and putting Rosa on the deck in both the first and second, neutralizing the pressure the Brazilian was beginning to apply each time. Rosa had more success in the third, keeping things standing and throwing with more force and intent, but never getting close to creating a finishing opportunity.
When the scorecards were tallied, it was Perez that came out ahead, registering her fifth straight UFC victory. The charismatic Argentine is the owner of the longest active winning streak in the division, and should get another opportunity against a Top 10 opponent next time out after out-working the tenured Brazilian on Saturday night in Los Angeles.
Grant Dawson defeats Diego Ferreira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Grant Dawson spoiled Diego Ferreira's 40th birthday, grinding out the Fortis MMA representative to secure his third straight victory and the biggest win of his career to date.

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“KGD” controlled the grappling entanglements throughout the bout, working back into effective positions in the spare moments when Ferreira attacked there and keeping the Brazilian pinned to the canvas whenever he initiated. Things were more frenetic on the feet, but it was never there for too long, with Dawson quickly working back into the clinch and returning Ferreira to the mat.
That’s now three straight for the American Top Team representative Dawson, and six wins in his last seven appearances. He’s a menacing presence on the mat, having continually improved the efficiency of his game, and should get a chance to re-enter the Top 15 at some point later in the year.
Bogdan Guskov defeats Billy Elekana by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:33 of Round 2
Bogdan Guskov had to navigate some rough terrain early in the fight, but once he cleared the choppy seas, he dominated, securing a second-round finish over late replacement Billy Elekana to end the run of decisions at UFC 311.

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Elekana surprised Guskov early, taking him down and climbing onto his back, locking in a body triangle and staying there, hunting for chokes, for four minutes. But Guskov got free and dominated the final stretch of the first, locking up a choke where Elekana was saved by the horn. He remained aggressive in the second and took the fight to the fading newcomer, punishing him with strikes before clamping onto a choke and drawing out the tap.
That’s now three straight wins and three straight finishes for the ascending light heavyweight from Uzbekistan. There were some dicey moments early, but Guskov dealt with it well and showed his class by cranking up the pressure and collecting the finish in the second.
Azamat Bekoev defeats Zachary Reese by KO (strikes) at 3:04 of Round 1
Welcome to the UFC, Azamat Bekoev!

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The American Top Team representative and former LFA champion registered a first-round knockout win over Zachary Reese, finishing the DWCS graduate with heavy shots from inside his guard. The power generated by Bekoev while postured up was incredible, and should put everyone in the division on notice.
Bekoev has been chomping at the bit for a UFC opportunity and made the absolute most of this short-notice fight, pushing his winning streak to seven while advancing his record to 19-3 overall. Middleweight has been electric out of the gates to start 2025 and Bekoev just announced his presence as one to watch going forward.
Raoni Barcelos defeats Payton Talbott by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Veteran Raoni Barcelos handed Payton Talbott the first loss of his professional career, leaning on his grappling and superior control to dominate the fight on the canvas.

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The 38-year-old Brazilian wisely took Talbott down early and often, advancing positions and threatening with chokes, roughing him up with strikes when the time called for it. While Talbott did well at times to work to his feet and landed some solid strikes when the two opted to stand and trade, Barcelos was always quick to get him back on the canvas.
That’s now consecutive wins over quality prospects for the tenured bantamweight, who moved to 8-4 inside the Octagon with the win. For Talbott, this is a critical learning experience in the early days of his UFC run, but surely not the last we hear of the promising, young fighter.
UFC 311: Makhachev vs Moicano took place live from Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on January 18, 2025. See the final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC FIGHT PASS!