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Arman out! – Moicano to fight Islam | 01:13
UFC lightweight challenger Arman Tsarukyan has pulled out of his UFC 311 main event fight against champ Islam Makhachev, with a replacement being announced.
UFC 311: MAKHACHEV VS MOICANO | SUN 19 JAN | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.
Makhachev will still defend his lightweight championship belt, but it will be against Brazilian Renato Moicano, who steps up to save the day on very late notice.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the news just a day before the fight after Tsarukyan didn’t front up for weigh-ins.
While not quite as late a notice, this is the second time in 15 months that Makhachev will have to face a ring-in after Aussie UFC star Alex Volkanovski fought the Russian star on 11-days notice.
Volkanovski accepted a short-notice rematch with Makhachev in October 2023 after Charles Olivieria withdrew from the title fight – a decision Volkanovski later said he regretted.
However, he’s poked fun at the situation amid the news of Tsarukyan’s very late withdrawal, posting an hilarious comment under an ESPN post revealing Moicano as Makhachev’s new opponent.
Moicano did weigh in at championship weight as back-up, with White revealing the new challenger and tenth seed in the lightweight division is raring to go.
“Around 1am this morning, we received a call from Arman Tsarukyan who informed us that he was experiencing significant back pain due to the injury,” White said in a video he posted to social media.
“He feels like he isn’t healthy enough to compete so he’s out of the fight.
“Stepping in to face Makhachev for the title is Renato Moicano. Moicano has been on a tear since moving up to 155 pounds and currently holds the longest active win streak among all fighters in the top ten of the lightweight division.
“The guy is an absolute savage and every fight he’s in is a war. When we told him this morning, I can tell you, he absolutely wants this fight. And when I called Islam, Islam said ‘brother, I am the champion. I will fight anyone.”
Moicano quickly took to social media after the announcement, believing he can pull off a massive upset.
“’Money’ Moicano is coming for the belt,” he said.
“Be ready, Islam Makhachev. Tomorrow is ‘Money’ time.
“Man, I’m so happy I got this opportunity. I have been working for this for a long time”
The UFC 311 card will be held at the brand new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
