Many people might disagree with Javier Mendez ’s pick for UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev ’s toughest fight. Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) has been dominant for the most part, but a few fighters have given him competitive fights during his career. Outside of his knockout loss to Adriano Martins in 2015, Makhachev has never lost.

Umar Nurmagomedov is on the verge of bringing a second UFC title to the Nurmagomedov family. If Islam Makhachev's prediction is correct, a third Nurmagomedov could hold UFC gold soon. Makhachev, the UFC lightweight champion,

Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan might be former foes, but they're not bitter rivals. The next UFC lightweight title fight is a rematch six years in the making, with current champion Makhachev defeating a 22-year-old Tsarukyan in his promotional debut back in 2019.

Islam Makhachev defends the lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan, after Umar Nurmagomedov challenges Merab Dvalishvili at bantamweight

A pair of title bouts sit atop the marquee as UFC 311 arrives in southern California on Saturday, marking the first pay-per-view event of 2025 for the global leader in mixed martial arts.  Pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev will look to extend his win streak to 15 fights when he defends his 155-pound title in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event.

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev once hoped he could settle one of Khabib Nurmagomedov's rivalries. Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson (25-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC) saw five scheduled bouts scrapped, and the pair never ended up settling their beef that spanned

The UFC will kick off its 2025 Pay-Per-View schedule this weekend with UFC 311, which features a pair of huge lightweight and bantamweight title fights.