UFC Champion Defends Title as Intuit Dome Hosts First Major Fighting Event

Inglewood’s Intuit Dome hosted its first major UFC event Saturday night as bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his title against Umar Nurmagomedov in a grueling unanimous decision victory at UFC 311.

The championship bout, which served as the co-main event of the evening, showcased world-class mixed martial arts action in front of a packed crowd at Inglewood’s newest sports and entertainment venue.

Dvalishvili, nicknamed “The Machine,” overcame a slow start to eventually outwork and outlast the previously undefeated Nurmagomedov in an exhaustive affair that demonstrated why Inglewood’s venues continue to attract premier sporting events.

“The turnout tonight was incredible,” said Marcus Johnson, who operates a sports bar near Intuit Dome. “These UFC events bring people from all over Southern California to Inglewood. We had customers from Orange County, the Valley, and even San Diego who came for the fights and spent the whole weekend here.”

After falling behind in the opening rounds, Dvalishvili turned up his famously frenetic pace to an even more extreme level. The champion finally managed to take Nurmagomedov to the mat in the third round and gradually took control of the fight with relentless pressure and volume striking.

“You guys know I’m training all the time, I am ‘The Machine,’ but when I take this fight, it was six weeks’ notice and I was injured,” Dvalishvili said in his post-fight interview at Intuit Dome. “I had a big cut on my leg and I had an infection, but I knew the UFC needed me.”

The victory extended Dvalishvili’s win streak to 11 straight, the longest in UFC bantamweight division history. The champion also broke the record for most takedowns in UFC history, previously held by MMA legend Georges St-Pierre.

Nurmagomedov, who had UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner, showed impressive skills early but eventually succumbed to Dvalishvili’s relentless attack. After the fight, he was gracious in defeat.

“I don’t think I won this fight,” Nurmagomedov admitted, also noting that he believed he broke his hand in the opening round.

Saturday’s event marked another milestone for Inglewood’s growing reputation as a premier destination for combat sports. The city has previously hosted major boxing events at The Forum, and now with Intuit Dome’s successful UFC debut, Inglewood continues to diversify its sports entertainment portfolio.

City officials estimate that major sporting events like UFC 311 generate approximately $2.5 million in economic impact for Inglewood businesses, with restaurants, hotels, and retail establishments all benefiting from the influx of visitors.

“These events are exactly what we envisioned when developing Inglewood’s entertainment district,” said Councilmember Patricia Wilson. “From the NBA at Intuit Dome to the NFL at SoFi Stadium and now the UFC, we’re seeing Inglewood establish itself as a true sports entertainment capital.”

UFC officials have not confirmed when they will return to Inglewood, but the success of Saturday’s event suggests that the promotion will likely book future cards at Intuit Dome.

This story incorporates reporting from Shaheen Al-Shatti with additional local context for Inglewood Times readers.