BREAKING NEWS, the scheduled lightweight title challenger at UFC 311, Arman Tsarukyan is out of the main event! As per Dana White on the official UFC weigh-in show, Tsarukyan contacted him around 1am local time saying that he was suffering ‘significant back pain’. The issue got no better and he didn’t feel fit enough to fight. White also took to his Instagram to break the news, which can be seen below:
View this post on Instagram
Fear not, however! Islam Makhachev will remain on the card, headlining the card and defending his lightweight title. His opponent? None other than Renato Moicano! #10 Moicano replaces Arman Tsarukyan having made championship weight, 155lbs earlier on today. Penny for the thoughts of Moicano’s original opponent, Beneil Daruish.
Arman Tsarukyan OUT, Renato Moicano IN
Arman Tsarukyan has been replaced with a worthy contender. Out of all the men in the top 10, Moicano is enjoying the longest winning run. Since moving up to lightweight, Moicano has won six of his last seven fights, five via finish. Money has been on a tear since moving up to 155lbs and is coming off his first main event. He took on Benoit St Denis in enemy territory in Paris.
READY FOR HIS SHOT 😤@MoicanoUFC is ready to fight for the LW title!! #UFC311 pic.twitter.com/P5kYXiaPU0
— UFC (@ufc) January 17, 2025
In typical Makhachev fashion, when White contacted him asking him whether he was keen for the fight, he apparently replied with:
“Brother, I am the champion. I don’t care who it is, I will fight anyone”
Moicano himself took to X (formerly Twitter) and stated:
Hey guess what I will be world champion tomorrow! God is so good! Thank you all the support #ufc311
— Renato Moicano (@moicanoufc) January 17, 2025
Could Moicano pull off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history? Or will it be a routine defence for Makhachev on short notice? Let us know in the comments below!
