Dvalishvili Defends His Title Against Umar Nurmagomedov
Merab Dvalishvili retained his bantamweight title by defeating Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision on January 18, 2025. Judges scored it 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46. The official scorecards document the verdict.
Nurmagomedov’s First Title Challenge
Nurmagomedov entered his first championship bout unbeaten. Dvalishvili’s pace and wrestling helped him secure the decision over five rounds. The official event recap records the title fight result.
Pressure changes the fight over five rounds
The co-main event took place at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Nurmagomedov found success with his striking early, using straight punches and responding effectively when the champion tried to close the distance. In the second round, he reversed a takedown attempt and briefly reached Dvalishvili’s back before the champion returned to his feet.
Dvalishvili’s sustained activity became more influential as the contest progressed. He combined takedown attempts with forward movement and punches, repeatedly making Nurmagomedov defend. The challenger continued getting back up, but the champion maintained pressure through the later rounds and completed the full twenty-five minutes with another strong push.
A successful first title defense
The unanimous verdict gave Dvalishvili his first successful defense of the UFC bantamweight championship and extended his winning streak to twelve consecutive fights. It also handed Nurmagomedov the first defeat of his professional career. The result reflected a contest in which early striking exchanges gave way to an increasingly demanding pace and frequent wrestling engagements. A contemporaneous fight report describes that progression alongside the official decision.
