UFC champion Belal Muhammad faced backlash from fans after claiming that his close friend and training partner Umar Nurmagomedov won three out of the five rounds against Merab Dvalishvili in the co-main event of UFC 311. Fans accused him of bias and questioned his objectivity. This controversy only added to the hostility towards Muhammad, with some fans even reminding him of his own loss at UFC 304.
Top-ranked UFC fighters Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov will face off in the first title fight of 2025, with Dvalishvili defending his bantamweight gold against undefeated challenger Nurmagomedov in a heated grudge match. Both fighters successfully made weight for the championship fight, with Nurmagomedov entering as the favored betting choice. The event will take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, and MMA fans can follow along on the MMA Junkie Instagram and YouTube channels for coverage and discussion.
Former UFC champion Cody Garbrandt doubts the legitimacy of current bantamweight title holder Sean O'Malley's wins, citing a controversial decision and his opponent's weight cut as potential factors. O'Malley's next defense against Merab Dvalishvili will be a true test of his skills, according to Garbrandt, who will also be fighting at UFC 300 this weekend. Join the conversation on MMA Junkie's social media platforms for more coverage of the event.