So, you're looking for what UFC is tonight? Honestly, you picked a massive night to tune in. We are officially live from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, for UFC 311. If you haven't been keeping track, this isn't just another fight night; it is a full-blown pay-per-view spectacle headlined by arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, Islam Makhachev.
It’s personal tonight. Islam is defending his lightweight throne against Renato Moicano, a guy who basically talked his way into a title shot through pure charisma and a string of violent wins. People are calling it a mismatch on paper. Is it? Maybe. But in the Octagon, paper doesn't bleed.
The Main Event: Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano
Let's get into the weeds here. Islam Makhachev is coming into tonight with the weight of a legacy on his shoulders. He's $26-1$. That’s a terrifying record. Most experts, like Joe Rogan or Daniel Cormier, will tell you his wrestling is basically a cheat code. He gets you to the fence, he trips you, and suddenly you're drowning in pressure.
But Moicano is a weird puzzle.
He’s a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who has developed this "Money Moicano" persona that fans absolutely adore. He isn't scared. Most guys fight Islam and look like they've seen a ghost before the first horn even sounds. Moicano? He’ll probably try to take Islam’s back in the first thirty seconds.
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"I'm not here for a decision. I'm here to finish the best guy in the world," Moicano said earlier this week. It’s bold. Sorta crazy. But that's why we watch.
What Time Does UFC 311 Start?
If you're trying to plan your snacks, here is the breakdown. Don't be that person who misses the first knockout because they were stuck in the drive-thru.
- Early Prelims: Start at 3:00 PM PST / 6:00 PM EST. These are on UFC Fight Pass.
- Prelims: These kick off at 5:00 PM PST / 8:00 PM EST. You can catch these on ESPN2 or ESPN+.
- Main Card: The big show starts at 7:00 PM PST / 10:00 PM EST. This is PPV only via ESPN+.
Why the Bantamweight Co-Main is Actually a Stealth Main Event
While everyone is talking about the lightweights, the bantamweight title fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov is legitimately insane.
Think about the cardio. Merab is basically a human cardio machine. He doesn't stop. He threw something like 400 strikes in his last fight. On the other side, you have Umar. Yes, another Nurmagomedov. He’s undefeated. He’s technical. He’s the "new breed" of MMA fighter who can strike just as well as he can grapple.
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This fight determines the future of the 135-pound division. If Umar wins, the Nurmagomedov era officially expands its borders. If Merab wins, he proves that his high-pace wrestling style is essentially unbeatable.
The Rest of the Stacked Main Card
Tonight's lineup is deep. We’ve got:
- Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill: This is a light heavyweight banger. Two former champs. Both have massive power. Both are coming off losses and need a win to stay in the title conversation.
- Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac: Heavyweight grappling at its finest. Or ugliest, depending on how much you like guys being squished against the fence.
- Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder: Holland is always a wild card. He's fighting a newcomer in De Ridder who was a double-champ in ONE Championship.
Where to Watch UFC Tonight
You basically have two options. If you're in the US, it’s the ESPN+ ecosystem. You’ll need the subscription for the prelims and then you’ve got to shell out for the PPV for the main card. If you're international, check your local listings—BT Sport in the UK or Foxtel in Australia usually carry the load.
It’s worth noting that the UFC is moving to a new distribution model with Paramount+ later this month (starting with UFC 324), so this is one of the last big "classic" ESPN+ shows we're getting.
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Actionable Tips for UFC 311
If you want to get the most out of tonight, keep these three things in mind.
First, watch the leg kicks in the main event. Moicano needs to slow Islam down early. If Islam's lead leg is chewed up by the end of Round 1, we might actually have an upset on our hands.
Second, don't sleep on the prelims. Payton Talbott is fighting Raoni Barcelos. Talbott is a rising star with some of the cleanest boxing in the lower weight classes. He’s a future title contender, mark my words.
Finally, keep an eye on the live betting odds. In a fight like Merab vs. Umar, the odds usually swing wildly after the first round once people see who is winning the wrestling exchanges.
Check your internet connection now. Nobody wants a buffering screen during a title-winning submission.
Get your setup ready. The walkouts for the main event should happen around 9:15 PM PST. Enjoy the fights.