Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is set to prove why he’s called ‘The Machine’ as he heads into 2025. For the first time, Dvalishvili will kick off the year as the reigning champion and there isn’t much downtime to enjoy for him. The Georgian fighter is already preparing for his first title defense, stepping back into the Octagon at the year’s opening pay-per-view event. His opponent will be the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov, making for a highly anticipated showdown.

The rivalry between the pair has already heated up with them engaging in multiple battles outside the Octagon. ‘The Machine’ is fairly upset with the way he claims he was treated by the challenger. However, he is ready to settle the differences once and for all inside the Octagon. With the bantamweight belt on the line, how much are the co-headlining fighters going to get paid? Let us find out about it below.

What is Umar Nurmagomedov’s UFC 311 salary?

Umar Nurmagomedov has quickly established himself as one of the most promising bantamweight contenders in the UFC. Known for his well-rounded skills and relentless approach, Umar’s rise reflects the disciplined approach that has become synonymous with the Nurmagomedov family name. As the cousin of former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, expectations were high from the moment ‘Young Eagle’ signed with the UFC. So far, he has lived up to the hype, remaining undefeated and steadily climbing the rankings. According to many, he is walking into the fight as a favorite and will dominate the champion. He will also have the former champion in his corner which will help him in the fight as well.

He seems ready to claim the belt and also keep his unbeaten run going. ‘Young Eagle’ keeps a very private life and is very confidential about his earnings from his fight. According to FirstSportz, his base salary for fights is $30,000 with another $30,000 if he wins. However, this was not the case during his last fight with Cory Sandhagen.

The Dagetsani fighter doesn’t like to share details about his payouts except for the $50000 payout that he disclosed for beating Raoni Barcelos. While his estimates are quite difficult to ascertain because of the lack of information available, he might have earned $466,000 from his fight against Sandhagen. He reportedly earned $114,000 because of his ‘Performance of the Night’ bonuses if we take into account his last two fights.

However, this time the stakes are a bit higher as he is part of the co-main event at UFC 311. Given these figures, it’s reasonable to anticipate that Nurmagomedov’s base salary for UFC 311 will be significantly higher than his previous earnings, potentially in the range of $300,000 or more. This estimate does not include additional income from performance bonuses, sponsorships, and a share of the pay-per-view revenue, which could substantially increase his total payout.

In summary, Umar Nurmagomedov‘s participation in the UFC 311 title fight is expected to yield the most lucrative payday of his career to date, reflecting his rising prominence in the sport and the financial rewards associated with championship bouts. But how much is his opponent earning at the same event? Let us find out about it.

What is Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC 311 salary?

Dvalishvili earned $211,000 for his fight against Henry Cejudo at UFC 298. However, things took a massive turn at UFC  306 when he defeated Sean O’Malley to win the title. Merab Dvalishvili impressed everyone with his performance and grabbed a paycheck of $1.43 million, including a $32,000 compliance pay. If we compare the amount to that of ‘Suga’, it’s almost half of what the former champion made, but it definitely was the biggest payday of the Georgian’s UFC run so far. However, we have to also take into account that he won the bantamweight belt art the high-stakes UFC Noche Riyadh Season or UFC 306 card, which was a high-value UFC event.

As Merab Dvalishvili prepares to defend his UFC bantamweight title against undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, his earnings are expected to reflect the significance of this high-profile bout. For UFC 311, it’s anticipated that Dvalishvili’s base salary will be higher, potentially in the range of $500,000 to $600,000, considering the increased stakes and spectators for a title bout. In addition to his base salary, Dvalishvili is likely to receive performance bonuses if he wins his fight. He is also expected to have a share of the pay-per-view revenue and income from personal sponsorships as well.

While exact figures for UFC 311 are not publicly disclosed, it’s reasonable to expect that Dvalishvili’s total earnings for this event will be substantial, reflecting his status as a UFC champion and the high-profile nature of the fight. However, more than the earnings, the champion seems focused on defending the belt. The fight is evenly poised at the moment with both fighters having a lot of qualities in common. So who do you think will win the fight at UFC 311? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.