Khabib Corners Both Nurmagomedov Teammates at UFC 311
Khabib Nurmagomedov worked in the corners of Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov at the January 18, 2025 event. Makhachev retained his lightweight title by submitting Renato Moicano with a D’Arce choke at 4:05 of Round 1. Umar challenged bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili but lost by unanimous decision, with the judges scoring it 48–47, 48–47, and 49–46.
Two Championship Bouts, Two Results
Makhachev’s opponent changed before fight night after Arman Tsarukyan withdrew; Renato Moicano stepped in for the main event. Makhachev’s first-round submission earned him a fourth successful title defense. In the co-main event, Umar pursued the bantamweight championship against Dvalishvili, who kept the belt with a five-round unanimous decision.
Khabib in the Corner
The official event coverage identified Khabib as a coach for Makhachev, the defending lightweight champion, and Umar Nurmagomedov, the bantamweight challenger. His interview with ESPN MMA, embedded above, focused on the demands of coaching and preparing his teammates. The event took place at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The split results show why Khabib’s role as a coach did not guarantee the same outcome for both teammates. Makhachev finished Moicano in the opening round, while Umar went the distance with Dvalishvili and lost on all three cards. The opponent change before the main event also made the night different from its original booking.
Sources
- Official event recap and results
- Official judges’ scorecards
- Official report on Khabib’s corner role
- Khabib’s interview with ESPN MMA
