In a sport where the Nurmagomedov name has become synonymous with dominance, Umar’s first professional defeat at the hands of Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311 landed with the weight of an anvil. The previously undefeated bantamweight, groomed under the watchful eye of his legendary cousin Khabib, found himself navigating the unfamiliar waters of loss—a family first that shattered the aura of Dagestani invincibility.

“I think I won the first round, and the others were close,” Umar muttered in the aftermath, his words carrying the raw disbelief of someone experiencing gravity for the first time. “I don’t think I lost this fight… I’m not arguing with the judges, but I need to rewatch it and see all the rounds.” The hesitation in his voice revealed more than any striking exchange could—the psychological armor of perfection had finally cracked. Initially hesitant to accept the result, Umar later came to terms with the defeat, stating, “Alhamdulillah, good or bad.”

His younger brother, Usman Nurmagomedov, the Bellator lightweight champion, also expressed skepticism over the outcome. “A little surprised,” Usman admitted. “I thought Umar won the first three rounds. When they said ‘and still,’ I thought they were going to say ‘and still undefeated.’ But anyway, Alhamdulillah,” he told MMA Junkie.

With controversy swirling, the current 135lbs kingpin didn’t hold back in his response to Team Khabib. Speaking to Eurosport, the Georgian fired shots at Umar Nurmagomedov and ‘Team Khabib’, saying, “[Umar] thought he would win in every aspect, but everyone saw what happened, and now everyone is laughing at him. In general, whatever you say before the fight comes back to you later.”

In UFC 311’s co-main event, both Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov entered the Octagon carrying injuries— ‘The Machine’ with deep stitches on his right shin and Nurmagomedov with a broken hand. Despite his setback, ‘The Machine’ dictated the pace from the opening bell, overwhelming Nurmagomedov with relentless pressure and rag-dolling him around the cage. His high-volume offense kept ‘Young Eagle’ on the back foot, forcing him into deep waters until his gas tank depleted.

As the fight progressed, the Georgian seized full control, securing a dominant victory in his first title defense and putting an end to Nurmagomedov’s undefeated streak. With a month gone since their fight, when can fans expect the Dagestani prospect and Dvalishvili to make their return to the Octagon?

What is the return timeline for Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov?

Following UFC 311, CSAC Executive Director Andy Foster released the official list of medical suspensions. As part of the standard post-fight protocol, all fighters underwent medical evaluations by the commission’s physicians and received mandatory suspensions. Despite a shin injury, the commission gave Merab Dvalishvili only a seven-day suspension. Meanwhile, Umar Nurmagomedov faced a much longer layoff, receiving a six-month (180-day) suspension due to his broken hand, in addition to the mandatory seven-day rest period.

A month after the fight, Umar Nurmagomedov provided an update on his recovery. Last week, he shared a picture of his swollen hand while doing treadmill exercises and revealed, “I will be able to punch in four months, so most likely I will come back in six months.” Meanwhile, Merab fueled speculation about his next opponent with a playful Valentine’s Day post. He shared an image of himself in a dominant grappling position over UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, seemingly mocking him. This led many to believe that a fight between the two could be in the works.

The speculation was further addressed by Georgian journalist ‘She Loves the Gloves,’ who attended the Georgian’s recent press conference in Georgia. Although no official audio from the event has been released, the journalist reported that the UFC is planning ‘The Machine’s next fight for June, with either Sean O’Malley or Petr Yan as his opponent.

“@MerabDvalishvili is holding a press conference in Georgia right now. He says the UFC is planning for his next fight to happen in June, with either Petr Yan or Sean O’Malley being his opponent. He then would like to fight the next contender in NY in November,” she wrote.

What are your thoughts on the UFC 311 co-main event between Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov? Do you believe ‘Team Khabib’s concerns about ‘The Machine’s victory hold merit? Was there anything in Dvalishvili’s performance that raised doubts? Share your opinion below!