Arman Tsarukyan issues statement on sudden UFC 311 pullout, while Renato Moicano wants to shock the world

Arman Tsarukyan issues statement on sudden UFC 311 PPV withdrawal vs. Islam Makhachev; Renato Moicano will replace him.

Arman Tsarukyan issues statement on sudden UFC 311 pullout, while Renato Moicano wants to shock the world

Arman Tsarukyan unable to stay in the UFC 311 lineup vs. Islam Makhachev (Source: IMAGO/X)

UFC 155-pound top contender Arman Tsarukyan withdrew from his lightweight title bout against reigning champion Islam Makhachev. It forced the brass to cue Renato Moicano from his fight and cobble together a new UFC 311 PPV (pay-per-view) event headliner! Now, Tsarukyan breaks his silence on the matter.

During the UFC 311 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins/Live weigh-in show at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT), a major development took place. It came to be that Arman Tsarukyan suffered a back injury and couldn’t make it to the weigh-ins. After the incident, both the champ (154.5) and Renato Moicano (155) made the championship weight. Now, Team ATT’s “Ahalkalakets” issues a formal first statement on it.

I regret to inform everyone that the news is that I had to pull out of UFC 311 with a back injury is true. This was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my fighting career. I would like to thank the UFC for understanding and I look forward to competing for my first UFC Championship in the future. Thank you all for your support.

Arman Tsarukyan via IG (@arm_011)
YouTube video

The 28-year-old didn’t say how his back injury came to be though. Islam Makhachev held on to his champion shorts, but his fourth UFC lightweight title defense now looks a lot different in the discourse. It’s taking cues from his mentor’s UFC 223 all over again! Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) was prepping for months on this, but remains unbothered.

FS Video

The whole thing would be more emotionally taxing on Tsarukyan. He has a history with the Makhachev from his 2019 short-notice showdown. Just like “Money” Moicano, Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was on a four-fight winning streak. But now, he’ll have to wait until a later date to exact his revenge or book his next PPV title fight against whoever is the champ. Moicano, meanwhile, has his plan of action.

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Renato Moicano hyped for last-minute UFC 311 title shot, ready to shock the world against Islam Makhachev

The UFC lightweight mainstay weighed in to face Beneil Dariush at UFC 311. Sure — the Team Kings MMA southpaw goes back on an unlucky bender. But the matchup spotlight is on the super-lucky Renato Moicano, who got a championship upgrade instead of Arman Tsarukyan!

Renato Moicano ready for Islam Makhachev challenge
Renato Moicano ready for Islam Makhachev challenge (Source: X)

“Money” Moicano drew Drew Dober in a bloody UFC Vegas 85 co-main event last year. Then he made a statement win and a second-round doctor’s stoppage TKO vs. Benoit Saint-Denis. In no particular order, Moicano is super intent on stretching his fame and his six-fight active streak in the lightweight (minus one catchweight bout). This chance-in-gold is a dream come true for Moicano.

‘Money’ Moicano is coming for the belt. Be ready, Islam Makhachev, …Tomorrow is ‘Money’ time. I’m so happy that I got this opportunity. I have been working for this for a long time, and I knew that could happen. That’s why I was training five rounds. That’s why I was training with a southpaw. I’m ready, and tomorrow I’m going to shock the world – This is ‘Money’ Moicano, and tomorrow I’m going to become champion of the world. Let’s fu*king go.

Renato Moicano after Official weigh-ins (🎥: @ufc on X)

Moicano (20-5-1 MMA, 12-5 UFC) enters the title foray at UFC 311 on a four-fight win streak and the back of prime performances at lightweight. He did lose to former champion Rafael dos Anjos in 2022. But that was a short-notice fight at 160 pounds.

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Subsequently, Islam Makhachev is also in a run of his own. The dominant Dagestani is currently on a 14-fight win streak and is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. The challenger is entering his surprise assignment as a +675 underdog on the money lines. Come this weekend, Makhachev will take this test and make sure the gold stays home.

Related: Arman Tsarukyan’s teammate is willing to replace him if UFC 311 star pulls a Tony Ferguson ‘freak accident’