UFC 311 promises to be a monumental night for Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team, but it’s also shaping up to be one of the most nerve-wracking. Two of Khabib’s closest allies, Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, are stepping into title fights, while another protégé, Tagir Ulankebov, is set to open the PPV against Clayton Carpenter.
Makhachev, the reigning lightweight champion, spoke candidly about his mentor’s emotions during a press conference. “I know Khabib is worried. It’s a big night for all of us,” he said. Despite the pressure, Makhachev promised to ease Khabib’s concerns by delivering another dominant performance.
However, Makhachev faces a significant challenge in his rematch against Arman Tsarukyan, a grappler whose skill set rivals his own. While Makhachev has effortlessly neutralized strikers in his title defenses, Tsarukyan’s wrestling ability introduces a new layer of complexity. This fight will test whether Makhachev can maintain his grip on the division.
Meanwhile, Umar Nurmagomedov is preparing for a showdown with bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. This long-anticipated fight has been brewing since Umar’s victory over Cory Sandhagen and Dvalishvili’s title win at UFC Noche.
For Khabib, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Reflecting on the intense evening ahead, he jokingly wrote on Instagram, “What a night is waiting for me. I hope I’ll survive.”
If Makhachev and Umar both claim victory, Team Khabib’s dominance will expand even further, adding to their already impressive collection of belts across the UFC and Bellator. But the celebration may be short-lived as Makhachev has his sights set on an even bigger challenge—a second belt.
Despite rejecting talks of fighting smaller featherweight challengers, Makhachev hinted at a potential move to welterweight. However, complications arise as welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, a close training partner, would need to make his own move to middleweight to avoid conflict.
As the dust settles from UFC 311, Khabib and his team will need to navigate the growing ambitions of their lightweight king while celebrating what could be one of the most historic nights in MMA history.
