Officials Announce UFC 311 Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan will Proceed Despite California Fires

LOS ANGELES — Amidst the devastating California wildfires that have grappled Los Angeles, officials have announced that Match 311 between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan will go ahead as planned at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on January 18, 2025. The news comes alongside the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles and the postponement of the Hornets-Clippers NBA game and the relocation from Los Angeles to Arizona of the NFL playoff game between the Rams and the Minnesota Vikings.

The long-anticipated lightweight championship rematch marks the first combat UFC lineup at the newly-built 18,000 arena, which is now the home to the LA Clippers basketball team. The announcement by the official Intuit Dome Instagram page to keep UFC 311 in Los Angeles ceased speculation for either a postponement of the event or change-of-venue to Las Vegas.

UFC 311 is the first pay-per-view UFC event of 2025 and the main card between Makhachev and Armenian Arman Tsarukyan is set to begin at 10 PM ET / 9 PM CT / 7 PM PT on ESPN+ PPV.

With a 22-3 record, 28 year old Arman Tsarukyan will challenge four-time UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev, who at 33 years old has a record 26-1. Makhachev will be defending his title for the fourth time amidst his ownership of the longest UFC lightweight win streak of fourteen when he beat Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.

Fans of Arman Tsarukyan anticipate his preemptive win over his opponent, even as Makhachev’s 14-fight winning streak has now surpassed retired UFC Lightweight Champion fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov’s previous record.

Author: L. Karamanoukian