UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, who trained on Long Island for years under Ray Longo, was successful in his first title defense after handing Umar Nurmagomedov the first loss of his career. Dvalishvili won a unanimous decision, 48-47, 48-47, 49-46, at UFC 311 on Jan. 18, 2025.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia reacts while walking into the ring prior to his bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia kicks Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia kicks Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia grapples with Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia strikes Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia and Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia grapple in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia kicks Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia reacts after the second round in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia and Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia strike each other in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia punches Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia punches Umar Nurmagomedov of Russiain a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia and Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia strike each other in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia punches Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia, R, knocks down Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia punches Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia kicks Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia punches Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia punches Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia reacts at the end of his bantamweight title fight against Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia reacts after his victory by decision in a bantamweight title fight against Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia, not pictured, during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia celebrates his victory over Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Getty Images/Harry How

Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia and UFC CEO Dana White after Dvalishvili's victory in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Credit: Zuffa LLC/Jeff Bottari

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia reacts after a decision victory against Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 311 event at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Credit: Zuffa LLC/Cooper Neill

Merab Dvalishvili reacts with his cornermen after a victory against Umar Nurmagomedov in the UFC bantamweight championship fight at UFC 311 at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. 

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