UFC 311 Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2 - Odds, Predictions & Picks

• 2025 kicks off with TWO title fights for UFC’s first PPV card

• Former LHW champions Prochzka and Hill fight for contendership

• Moicano looks to defeat Dariush and enter the lightweight top-5

UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2

The odds for this match are provided by the FanDuel Sportsbook. Click the link to place your bets: Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

UFC 311: Makhachev vs Tsarukyan 2 - Picks & Predictions

(C) Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan - Lightweight championship

Our pick: Islam Makhachev (-400) at FanDuel

(C) Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov - Bantamweight championship

Our pick: Merab Dvalishvili (+240) at FanDuel

Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill - Light heavyweight division

Our pick: Jiri Prochazka (+100) at FanDuel

Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano - Lightweight division

Our pick: Beneil Dariush (+142) at FanDuel

Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder - Middleweight division

Our pick: Kevin Holland (-113) at FanDuel

Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan - Lightweight Championship

In April of 2019, Arman Tsarukyan made his UFC debut. Whom did he face? Islam Makhachev. He lost the fight via unanimous decision and this Saturday he looks to not only avenge that loss, but to win the lightweight title in one fell swoop.

Tsarukyan is riding a four-fight winning streak heading into this main event, having most recently defeated former champion Charles Oliveira by split-decision at UFC 300 last April.

For Islam Makhachev, this will be his fourth title defense. The current champ hasn’t lost a fight since 2015. He won the vacant title back in 2022 and has since beaten featherweight great Alexander Volkanovski and, most recently, earned a submission win over Dustin Poirier.

Although he stands three-inches taller than Tsarukyan, Makhachev will be at a reach disadvantage. Regardless of this, he is still considered a (-400) favorite at FanDuel to walk out of UFC 311 still the champion. 

Islam Makhachev is the largest betting favorite on the main card.

To find out how to place your bets for this lightweight title main event, check out our ultimate UFC betting guide to get started.

Get $300 in Bonus Bets at FanDuel With a Winning Bet

Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov - Bantamweight Championship

The co-main event of UFC 311 will also see gold on the line as bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishivili makes his first title defense against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

Dvalishvili won the bantamweight title just four-months ago, having earned a unanimous decision win over Sean O’Malley. The win over O’Malley was his 11th in a row.

Nurmagomedov, cousin to the now retired former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, has yet to taste defeat in his professional career. He has six wins in the UFC, with his most recent win coming against Cory Sandhagen in the form of a unanimous decision last August.

The challenger is younger, taller and will have a one-inch reach advantage. But Dvalishvili is known for his cardio and relentless pressure. High-level grappling - especially sambo - is likely to be on full display in this matchup in which Nurmagomedov will be the (-330) favorite at FanDuel.

Bet $5 at FanDuel, Get $300 in Bonus Bets With a Correct Wager

Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill - Light Heavyweight Division

In what is likely to be considered a number-one contender fight (with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira’s next challenger already decided), two former champions will go toe-to-toe.

Not much separates Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill physically. They stand at equal height, are only two-year apart in age and only one-inch separates them in the reach department. 

Prochazka is 2-2 in his last four fights. He is coming off of a loss against Alex Pereira in a fight that he hoped to regain his gold.

Jamahal Hill is also coming off of a loss to Alex Pereira. Hill was knocked out in the first round of their LHW title main event of UFC 300.

Hill has the edge in the eyes of the oddsmakers as he is currently listed as the (-130) favorite at FanDuel.

Win a $5 Wager at FanDuel, Get $300 in Bonus Bets

Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano - Lightweight Division

Currently ranked as the number-nine lightweight in the UFC, Beneil Dariush has been a top-ten staple of the division for several years.

He takes on number-ten ranked Renato Moicano, who has been on a tear lately - having won his last four fights in a row.

Dariush has dropped his last two in a row and was unable to compete in 2024. He hasn’t fought since his 2023 loss to Arman Tsarukyan.

Moicano is coming off of a second-round TKO win over Benoit Saint Denis that took place last December.

Both fighters are the same age and have the same reach, but Moicano will stand one-inch taller and enter the octagon this Saturday as the (-184) favorite to win at FanDuel.

Get $300 in Bonus Bets With a Correct Bet at FanDuel

Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder - Middleweight Division

Kicking off the main card will be two Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts as Kevin Holland takes on Reinier de Ridder- who will be making just his second UFC octagon appearance this weekend.

De Ridder debuted for the promotion last November and earned a third-round submission win over Gerald Meerschaert.

Fan-favorite Kevin Holland has gone just 1-3 over his last four fights. He is coming off of a first-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage) loss at the hands of Roman Dolidze that took place last October.

This is a total pick ‘em as both fighters are listed at (-113) via FanDuel.

Bet $5 at FanDuel, Get $300 in Bonus Bets With a Correct Wager

How to Watch UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2

• Location: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California

• When: Saturday, January 18

• Time: 10PM EST

• How: UFC Fight Pass, PPV, ESPN+, Sportsnet+