Two of the top fighters on the planet have the opportunity to bring gold back to what is arguably the combat sports capital of the world. Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev looks to continue his reign over the 155-pound division and cement his status as the sport’s top fighter when he takes on late-notice challenger Renato Moicano in the UFC 311 main event Saturday night at Intuit Dome. One fight earlier, Makhachev’s undefeated teammate, Umar Nurmagomedov, looks to wrest the bantamweight title from 135-pound champion Merab Dvalishvili, who is riding an 11-fight winning streak. “Nervous for sure. Hard fight,” Makhachev said of his comrade’s title challenge. Unbowed, however, is the champ upon receiving news that challenger Arman Tsarukyan had informed the UFC at 1 a.m. Friday that a back injury was forcing him out of the title fight, resulting in Moicano being elevated from main card to main event. Minutes after UFC CEO and President Dana White took to social media Friday morning to announce the switch, Makhachev (26-1) posted on the social media site X: “What does this title represent? It means you’re the best in the world and if you’re the best in the world, it doesn’t matter who’s going to be standing across from you. What do I say? No? NEVER. Let’s do this!” Not to be outdone was Moicano (20-5-1), who had been scheduled to take on Placentia’s Beneil Dariush, who is now no longer fighting Saturday. The boisterous Brazilian, who has won four in a row and three by finishes, wrote on X as well: “Hey guess what I will be world champion tomorrow! God is so good! Thank you all the support #ufc311” As 26 of Makhachev’s opponents will tell you, that is easier said than done. The pride of the Russian republic of Dagestan looks to continue the legacy of UFC lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is much more than Makhachev’s lifelong friend and Umar Nurmagomedov’s cousin. THE EAGLE’S BEST Khabib Nurmagomedov ended his UFC career as a 29-0 champion in October 2020, less than four months after the death of his father and lifelong coach. In doing so, he took over his father’s role and began training his fellow Dagestanis. To have him in your corner as your fight is about to commence is an immeasurable boost. “The Eagle” transforms, his cousin says. “Like a lion, you know, behind your back. No, not just for fight, for life,” Umar Nurmagomedov said. “Yes, it’s very good for fight. He supports me everywhere. This man is amazing.” Makhachev has made three successful title defenses since winning the belt with a second-round arm-triangle choke submission over decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu star and former 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in October 2022. Of Makhachev’s last eight victories, five were by submission and two were by knockout. His title reign and 13-fight UFC winning streak, which trails only former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (15) and middleweight great Anderson Silva (16), has led to calls of him being among the, if not the, best pound-for-pound in MMA. That’s not of the utmost concern for Makhachev. “Of course, I like to be, but one thing that I care always to be is UFC champion. This is the most important thing. To keep my belt,” he said. PURSUING HISTORY Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0) seeks to set the tone for what could be a historic night for the UFC and Dagestan as he and Makhachev strive to become the first teammates to win a belt in the co-main event and retain a belt in the main event. And he has the numbers to back up his unblemished record. Not only has Umar Nurmagomedov never lost a round in six UFC victories, he’s never been taken down. That serves as a tantalizing challenge for a nonstop fighter like Dvalishvili (18-4), who earned a title shot with a unanimous-decision victory over Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 in March at Honda Center, then claimed the belt at UFC 306 with a grappling clinic against champion Sean O’Malley, landing six of 15 takedown attempts for another unanimous-decision win. A native of the country of Georgia who trains in Long Island, New York, Dvalishvili says nothing has changed going from the hunter to the hunted: “I’m still hunting.” No nickname in any sport might be as appropriate as “The Machine” is for Dvalishvili, known for his relentless and unrivaled cardio. “When I moved to New York, I don’t speak English, and I had to start working in my construction career. And I had some ups and downs, but I was happy working,” he said. “And I was always going, going, going or not stopping. And I think I have a style now that I always have to push, push.” Between training in Dagestan and at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Umar Numragomdeov has no doubt he can successfully fend off Dvalishvili’s takedowns. And if his opponent succeeds and becomes the first to get him to the mat, it won’t be for long. “I’m getting up with guys who are fighting like lightweight and welterweight. I get up with them,” he said. “But Merab is no way. It’s gonna be too easy to get up.” Related Articles Boxing/MMA | UFC 311: Tsarukyan out of main event; Moicano will face Makhachev for title Boxing/MMA | UFC 311: Fires weigh heavy on fighters with Southern California roots Boxing/MMA | UFC’s Mackenzie Dern expects different Amanda Ribas rematch Boxing/MMA | Swanson: Garden Grove teen fought to live, now she fights for boxing glory Boxing/MMA | Usyk defeats Fury again to retain heavyweight title Coming off a magnificent lopsided decision victory over former interim bantamweight title challenger Cory Sandhagen in August, Umar Nurmagomedov has tried to temper some of the emotions that have swelled in recent weeks between him and Dvalishvili. In doing so, he expresses a conviction that Dvalishvili would rather not be making his first title defense against him. “I don’t want to see him like enemy, you know? No, he’s a fighter,” Umar Nurmagomedov said. “He’s just nervous because he has to fight with me. I know it. He wants to fight with other guys (with) who he is confident. But with me? No, he’s not confident. And everybody can see that.”