Submitting Renato Moicano in one round, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev successfully retained his title at UFC 311 in California on Sunday (January 19, 2025) to claim his 15th win in a row and his fifth lightweight title. The Russian's fourth successive title defence is unprecedented in the UFC. (More Sports News)
🐎Khabib Nurmagomedov, Benson Henderson and BJ Penn had previously held the record with three title defences each.
𓆏The 33-year-old Makhachev notched up his 13th win by submission. "I like this belt," Makhachev said. "If somebody wants this belt, come to the cage." Incidentally, Nurmagomedov was in Makhachev's corner, having picked up a coaching role after hanging up his fighting gloves.
ღThe 35-year-old Moicano was a last-minute replacement for top-ranked challenger Arman Tsarukyan, who pulled out of the bout the previous day due to “significant back pain” related to an injury.
🦋The 10th-ranked Moicano, from Brazil, came in with nine wins in his last 10 fights, but proved to be no match for Makhachev, who continues to demonstrate why he’s one of the best in the world.
🐷"I'm always looking for the finish," Makhachev said. "I'm not just talk. All fight week, all my camp, all media, if my opponent gives me a small chance, I will close the night."
🌠With the win, Makhachev improved his overall record to 27 wins and just one loss.
💟The triumph prompted UFC president Dana White to acknowledge Makhachev as his personal pound-for-pound best, despite having spent the last year making the case for heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
🐼Meanwhile, in the heavyweight division, sixth-ranked Jailton Almeida (22-3-0) used a flurry of right hands to hurt seventh-ranked Serghei Spivac (17-5-0) late in the first round and used a ground-and-pound attack to finish the match with a technical knockout at the 4 minutes, 53 seconds mark.
