UFC 311 is just around the corner, with the co-main event set to be contested between bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili and undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov.
Despite injury concerns for both champion and challenger, rising Umar Nurmagomedov has now retracted his claim that he entered the UFC 311 training camp with a broken arm.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Umar Nurmagomedov withdraws from injury claim ahead of UFC 311
Concerns were raised about the UFC 311 co-main event last week after Nurmagomedov revealed he suffered a broken arm in late 2024 and was warned by his team against accepting the Jan. 18 title fight.
“After I was in Dagestan, I hit my arm, I went to show it to the doctor, and I show it to them. They didn't do an MRI, but if they checked the bone, an X-ray. They took x-rays and said, 'You're broken [your arm]'.
“My manager and my brother said, 'Are you crazy? You can't fight like that' and they said no. She [UFC] asked again, they called me again 'do you want to fight with Merab?' Of course I already called Ali and said: let it happen.
But in a recent interview with MMA Junkie, the undefeated Russian backtracked on claims that the broken arm was still affecting him as he entered training camp for UFC 311.
“No, I'm not training with an injury, I was already healthy when I started this training camp and there were no problems when I trained – nothing. It was very good, a perfect training camp.
“I'm good, I'm perfect – don't worry. My arms are ready to be smashed.”
Despite being the new title challenger, Nurmagomedov is a heavy favorite over Merab Dvalishvili, with a whopping 69% of Tapology users predicting 'And New' in LA.
“I don't think about that,” he said in response to those broadening lines.
“I have my team, [and] I have good friends around me, coaches and I did everything perfectly. I prepared for this fight and I kept all the energy to prepare 100%. I've done everything and now I'm ready to be in my best shape.
Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili also revealed that he recently suffered an injury during training camp, but according to reports, none of the UFC 311 title fights will have a backup fighter on standby.
Umar Nurmagomedov reveals his plan to fight three times in 2025
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley recently came out suggesting that while he would be open to facing Nurmagomedov next, he would much rather face 'The Machine' in a title rematch.
In response, the undefeated 29-year-old not only stated that O'Malley will be the next title challenger in either circumstance, but also explained why he thinks 'Suga' is working against him.
“I think if they're going to do this match, and after I win this fight, I think O'Malley will be next.
“He wants Merab to win, not because [he wants] a second chance, he thinks Merab will be easier than me… With Merab he has a chance [to win] but with me he knows [there’s no chance].”
In an ideal world, Nurmagomedov will fight three times in 2025; first against Dvalishvili next weekend, then against O'Malley in the summer, before ending the year with a homecoming in Abu Dhabi.
“Yes, I can fight three times – I will fight three times this year [and] I think that's ideal [plan] for me it would be June and October.”
UFC 311: Makhachev vs Tsarukyan will air live from Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18.
Related topics
Comments