Big night ahead—UFC 311 is coming at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California this Saturday. Main event? Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan for the lightweight belt. And the rest of the card? Pure fire. Here are our UFC 311 picks & predictions.

Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan

These two fought back in 2019. Makhachev won, but it was competitive—Tsarukyan put up a solid fight. Since then, Makhachev’s become a dominant force in the division, combining world-class grappling with improved striking. On the other hand, Tsarukyan has leveled up, showing massive improvements in striking and defense, as seen in his win over Oliveira. This rematch has all the ingredients for a five-round war.

Player45’s Pick: Tsarukyan by decision. His striking and takedown defense could give him the edge.

Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov

Bantamweight title fight here. Merab Dvalishvili never slows down—he’s all about non-stop pressure. Umar Nurmagomedov? Undefeated and highly technical, with grappling skills that can frustrate anyone. Expect this to be a back-and-forth battle with tons of action.

Player45’s Pick: Dvalishvili by decision. His relentless pace might wear Nurmagomedov down in the later rounds.

Other UFC 311 Matchups to Watch | Picks & Predictions

• Prochazka vs. Hill: A light heavyweight showdown. Prochazka’s chaotic striking style against Hill’s powerful knockouts. This one probably won’t go the distance.
  Player45’s Pick: Prochazka by KO, Round 2.
• Dariush vs. Moicano: Dariush is looking to bounce back, but Moicano’s submission game and recent performances make him a tough opponent.
  Player45’s Pick: Moicano by submission.
• Holland vs. de Ridder: Holland’s striking meets de Ridder’s elite grappling in a battle of styles.
  Player45’s Pick: Holland by KO, Round 1.

Prelims: The prelims have some exciting fights lined up. Walker vs. Guskov could be fireworks, and Almeida vs. Spivac is an intriguing heavyweight clash.

• Player45’s Picks:
  • Walker by KO
  • Almeida by submission

The main card kicks off at 10 PM EST on ESPN+ PPV. Don’t miss it.

You can check out all the latest sports articles here