#UFC311 just keeps getting BETTER
Jan 18 can’t come soon enough! pic.twitter.com/jbiVNLdpRu
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2024
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Renato “Money” Moicano is getting his wish, just a little later than he expected.
The organization released the full bout listing and order for UFC 311 on Thursday, which is taking place on Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Many of the matchups had already been announced or reported, including its headliner of Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan rematching for the lightweight strap, and its co-main attraction of Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov with bantamweight gold on the line. Of note, the promotion revealed that on the main card, Beneil Dariush (22-6-1) would be throwing down with Moicano (20-5-1) in the lightweight division. Additionally, Tagir Ulanbekov and Clayton Carpenter will serve as the flyweight curtain jerker.
Dariush will enter the cage after taking over a year off, with his last time out coming at UFC on ESPN 52 when he battled and lost to Tsarukyan in 64 seconds. It was the second first-round knockout in a row that the veteran had suffered, as Charles Oliveira crushed his eight-fight win streak by putting him down in a little over four minutes. Before the two setbacks, Dariush had picked up notable wins over names including Mateusz Gamrot, Drew Dober, Diego Ferreira and Tony Ferguson, while also registering one of a small number of spinning back fist knockouts in company history.
Brazil’s Carneiro has plenty of momentum behind him, including three wins in 2024 over Dober, Jalin Turner and Benoit St. Denis. After getting past Dober, Moicano called out Dariush on social media, but he did not get that top-ranked matchup yet. A submission specialist by trade, the American Top Team-trained fighter earned his first two career knockout wins in his last two appearances, although the latter came by doctor stoppage.
UFC 311 goes down on Jan. 18 in Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome, with Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 on tap for the main event and lightweight glory. The other title fight that precedes it comes at 135 pounds as Merab Dvalishvili defends his throne against Umar Nurmagomedov. The main card will also include a potential light heavyweight title eliminator as Jiri Prochazka comes to blows with Jamahal Hill, and a thriller at middleweight when Kevin Holland faces Reinier de Ridder.
