Islam Makhachev retains lightweight belt against Renato Moicano at UFC 311 | Mixed Martial Arts News

In an epic, action-packed bantamweight title fight, Merab Dvalishvili defends his title against Umar Nurmagomedov.

Islam Makhachev has successfully defended his lightweight championship belt following a first-round submission of 10th-ranked Renato Moicano at UFC 311.

The Russian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter took four minutes and five seconds to claim his 15th straight victory at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on Saturday.

Makhachev, who has a record of 27 wins and one loss, was quick to deliver a D’Arce choke on his Brazilian opponent after beating him quickly.

The 33-year-old Makhachev has the most title fight wins in the division with five and has achieved what no other fighter in his division has ever done – successfully defending his belt four times. It was his 13th victory by submission.

“I like this belt,” said Makhachev, the UFC’s top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter and the most decorated lightweight of all time. “If anyone wants this belt, come to the cage.”

Moicano was a last-minute replacement for top-ranked challenger Arman Tsarukyan, who pulled out of the fight on Friday due to “significant back pain” related to an injury.

The 35-year-old Moicano from Brazil came in with nine wins in his last 10 fights but proved no match for Makhachev, whose fight has been unmatched as he continues to prove why he is one of the best in the world.

Moicano was harsher on himself, saying Makhachev was the better fighter. However, he worries that it may have been his one shot at championship glory.

“It wasn’t a day’s notice,” Moicano said after the game. “It was a life message. I’m very sorry. I spent my whole life in this moment and tapped out in the first round.”

Makhachev said he does not have a preference for his next opponent.

In an epic, action-packed bantamweight title fight, champion Merab Dvalishvili was successful in his first title defense as he extended his winning streak to 12 while handing second-ranked contender Umar Nurmagomedov the first loss of his career.

The pace of the fight saw both fighters dominate at different points in the fight, with Dvalishvili closing strong after two of the three judges had Nurmagomedov in the lead after the first two rounds.

Nurmagomedov said he felt like he had broken his left hand and couldn’t use it after the first round.

In a light heavyweight bout, former champion and second-ranked Jiri Prochazka used a flurry of punches in the third round to overwhelm third-ranked Jamahal Hill, leading to a three-minute stoppage for a total knockout (TKO).

In the heavyweight division, sixth-ranked Jailton Almeida used a flurry of right hands to hurt seventh-ranked Serghei Spivac late in the first round and used a ground-and-pound attack to end the bout with a TKO at the 4:53 mark.

Reinier de Ridder wasted no time in taking down Kevin Holland about 10 seconds into their middleweight bout, finishing him with a backwards naked choke hold at 3:31 of the first round.