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.
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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)
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.
"Brother, I am the champion." 🗣@MAKHACHEVMMA didn't flinch about his #UFC311 opponent switch!
— UFC (@ufc) January 17, 2025
[ #UFC311 | Live TOMORROW on @ESPNPlus PPV | 10pmET ] pic.twitter.com/gEXX22gmWa
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
— UFC News (@UFCNews) January 17, 2025
Renato Moicano (@moicanoufc) replaces Arman Tsarukyan and will fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at #UFC311.
Read more here ➡️: https://t.co/zhsD7iTSxG https://t.co/zhsD7iTSxG
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.
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!
“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)
READY FOR HIS SHOT 😤@MoicanoUFC is ready to fight for the LW title!! #UFC311 pic.twitter.com/P5kYXiaPU0
— UFC (@ufc) January 17, 2025
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.
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.
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