UFC 311 Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 - Full Prelim Fight Card Predictions

Check out predictions for every prelim fight at UFC 311.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The UFC heads to the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, CA this Saturday (January 18) for UFC 311, and MMA KO’s Drew Beaupré is here to provide predictions for all nine of the card's prelim fights.

UFC 311 Preliminary Card

Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos

The fact that this bout has been given the featured prelim slot over a matchup between top-ranked heavyweights speaks volumes about the potential star power that both fans and the UFC have identified in Talbott.

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Payton Talbott (red gloves) prepares to fight Yanis Ghemmouri (not pictured) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

I always hate seeing such lopsided odds between a rising prospect and an experienced veteran like Barcelos, but I expect that Talbott will pass this test and continue his ascent towards the bantamweight rankings.

(Pick: Talbott)

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Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac

This fight has significantly higher stakes that the main card-opener between Kevin Holland and Reinier de Ridder, but I understand why the UFC was hesitant to open the UFC 311 PPV with a matchup featuring two heavyweight grapplers.

Mar 5, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Serghei Spivac (red gloves) fights Greg Hardy (blue gloves) during UFC 272 at T-Mobile Arena. / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Submitting another talented grappler and perennial top heavyweight in Marcin Tybura was an impressive result for Spivac, but I have to side with Almeida to secure his second win in a row after Curtis Blaydes halted the Brazilian’s momentum last March.

(Pick: Almeida)

Bogdan Guskov vs. Billy Elekana

Guskov was originally supposed to face #10-ranked light heavyweight Johnny Walker in Los Angeles, and instead the 32-year-old will now welcome Billy Elekana to the UFC.

Sep 2, 2023; Paris, France; Volkan Oezdemir (red gloves) fights Bogdan Guskov (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. / Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

Elekana’s amateur experience helps to bridge the gap between his and Guskov’s overall pro fights. While the American does have a huge opportunity to make an immediate impact in his promotional debut, Guskov has already proven himself to be a UFC-caliber light heavyweight with his last win over Ryan Spann.

(Pick: Guskov)

Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira

This is one of the most underrated matchups on the UFC 311 prelims, and although Dawson is a decent-sized favorite Ferreira is very much a live dog here.

May 11, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Diego Ferreira (red gloves) fights Mateusz Rebecki (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Enterprise Center. / Jeff Le-Imagn Images

The hope is that this fight will produce some entertaining grappling exchanges, and while I think Ferreira will definitely push Dawson more than the odds indicate I expect that “KGD” will secure his third-straight victory here.

(Pick: Dawson)

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UFC 311 Early Preliminary Card

Zach Reese vs. Azamat Bekoev

Bekoev is a former LFA middleweight champion. / (LFA)

Reese was scheduled to meet Sedriques Dumas before the latter fighter pulled out during UFC 311 fight week, and unfortunately for “Savage” he’s arguably now facing a bigger challenge in the debuting Bekoev.

(Pick: Bekoev)

Karol Rosa vs. Ailin Perez

Jun 1, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Ailin Perez (red gloves) celebrates defeating Joselyne Edwards (blue gloves) during UFC 302 at Prudential Center. / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Perez has quickly made a name for herself in the UFC thanks to a four-fight win streak and her post-fight antics in the cage, but I think her winning run will come to an end here against an experienced UFC veteran in Rosa.

(Pick: Rosa)

Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafurov

Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Rinya Nakamura moves in against Carlos Vera during UFC 298 at Honda Center. / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

I’m siding with Nakamura to extend his undefeated record here, but don’t be surprised if Gafurov makes things significantly more competitive than the current betting odds indicate.

(Pick: Nakamura)

Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj

Raul Rosas Jr. secures a rear choke submission against Ricky Turcios in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at KFC YUM! Center. / (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

This fight was supposed to take place in November before Turcios experienced some issues following his weight but, and unfortunately for him another loss here could put the TUF 29-winner in serious jeopardy of being cut from the UFC.

(Pick: Turcios)

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Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clayton Carpenter

Dec 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Tagir Ulanbekov (red gloves) fights Cody Durden (blue gloves) during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena. / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

A matchup with the #11-ranked Ulanbekov is a massive step up for Carpenter, and while I’m tempted to pick the undefeated fighter to score an upset this seems like an odd piece of matchmaking from the UFC.

(Pick: Ulanbekov)

MMA KO will be providing comprehensive coverage for UFC 311 all throughout fight week, and be sure to check back on our homepage for weigh-in and press conference coverage as well as live results and highlights from all the action on fight night.

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