The UFC kicks off 2025 with a return to action after a brief hiatus, featuring two events in January, both held in the United States. The first, UFC Vegas 101, emanates from the familiar UFC Apex in Las Vegas on January 11th. This fight night is headlined by a compelling strawweight rematch between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas. Dern, a highly regarded grappler with a strong jiu-jitsu pedigree, aims to avenge her 2019 loss to Ribas and solidify her position in the top 10. Ribas, ranked in both the strawweight and flyweight divisions, seeks to rebound from her recent defeat to Rose Namajunas and reassert her presence as a force to be reckoned with. This rematch offers an intriguing stylistic clash and a chance for both fighters to make a statement in the competitive strawweight landscape. The card also features a welterweight bout between Santiago Ponzinibbio and Carlston Harris, promising fireworks and potentially shifting the dynamics of the division. Other notable matchups include César Almeida vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan, Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov, and Christian Rodriguez vs. Austin Bashi, adding depth and excitement to the fight night.
The preliminary card for UFC Vegas 101 is stacked with promising talent and potential for thrilling contests. Matchups like Jose Johnson vs. Felipe Bunes, Marco Tulio vs. Ihor Potieria, and Thiago Moisés vs. Trey Ogden showcase the depth of the UFC roster and offer opportunities for rising prospects to shine. Further down the card, Preston Parsons faces Andreas Gustafsson, Ernesta Kareckaitė takes on Nicolle Caliari, and Magomed Gadzhiyasulov clashes with Bruno Lopes. Adding to the preliminary action, Fatima Kline battles Victoria Dudakova and Nurullo Aliev squares off against Yanal Ashmouz. This comprehensive lineup provides a platform for both established fighters and up-and-comers to showcase their skills and climb the ranks.
The second event of the month, UFC 311, takes place on January 18th at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, marking the promotion’s first pay-per-view of the year. This stacked card features two title fights at the top of the bill. In the main event, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev defends his belt in a highly anticipated rematch against Arman Tsarukyan. Their first encounter in 2019 saw Makhachev emerge victorious, but Tsarukyan has since established himself as a top contender with impressive performances. This rematch offers a compelling narrative of growth and redemption, with Tsarukyan seeking to avenge his earlier loss and dethrone the dominant champion. The co-main event showcases another title clash, with bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili facing the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili, known for his relentless grappling and impressive winning streak, faces a formidable challenge in Nurmagomedov, who has quickly risen through the ranks with his well-rounded skillset and dominant performances. This matchup promises a high-stakes battle for bantamweight supremacy.
The UFC 311 pay-per-view card is further bolstered by several high-profile matchups. Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano clash in a lightweight bout with potential title implications. Former light heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka looks to regain his footing in the division against the dangerous Jamahal Hill. Kevin Holland, known for his dynamic striking and unorthodox style, takes on the grappling specialist Reinier de Ridder in a middleweight clash. These matchups add significant depth and intrigue to the already stacked card, promising an exciting night of action for fight fans.
The preliminary portion of UFC 311 offers a mix of established names and rising prospects. Johnny Walker faces Bogdan Guskov in a light heavyweight bout, while Payton Talbott takes on Raoni Barcelos in a bantamweight clash. Jailton Almeida, a rising heavyweight prospect, squares off against the experienced Serghei Spivac, and Zachary Reese looks to continue his climb in the welterweight division against Sedriques Dumas. These preliminary matchups offer a glimpse into the future of the UFC, showcasing the next generation of talent while also providing established fighters with opportunities to climb the ranks.
The early preliminary card for UFC 311 rounds out the event with a collection of exciting matchups. Grant Dawson battles Carlos Diego Ferreira in a lightweight contest, while Karol Rosa takes on Ailín Pérez in a women’s flyweight bout. Rinya Nakamura faces Muin Gafurov in a bantamweight clash, Ricky Turcios squares off against Bernardo Sopaj, and Tagir Ulanbekov takes on Clayton Carpenter in a flyweight matchup. These early prelims offer a platform for up-and-coming fighters to gain valuable experience and potentially make a name for themselves on a major stage. As with any fight card, there is a possibility of changes, but the initial lineup for UFC 311 promises an action-packed start to the 2025 pay-per-view schedule. The two January events offer a diverse array of matchups, featuring title fights, rematches, and clashes between rising prospects and established veterans, setting the stage for an exciting year of UFC action.
