Khabib Nurmagomedov reacts to UFC 311 headliner shift after Arman Tsarukyan pulls out: “If you guys remember…”
Coach Khabib Nurmagomedov weighs in on Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano following UFC 311 PPV title shift.
Follow Us
Khabib Nurmagomedov pitches in on Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano for UFC 311 (Source: X)
Last-minute opponent changes are something UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov is familiar with. Team Khabib’s namesake coach will corner Islam Makhachev atop the UFC 311 PPV (Pay-per-view) main card. However, the lightweight champion will now defend his gold against a surprise challenger Renato Moicano.
The news of the switch came on Friday morning after the official weigh-ins for the event. UFC 155-pound top contender Arman Tsarukyan withdrew due to a back injury. In his place, Renato Moicano enters the fold. Khabib Nurmagomedov, who has cornered friends and family before, weighs in on it. He alluded to an unfortunate career incident from 2017.
Honestly, I knew this yesterday 1 a.m., …[at] night before I go to sleep, Honestly, this can happen with anybody…If you guys remember 2017 March, it happened with me too. Then after that, I go hospital, make surgery, come back, and I tell UFC if it was my mistake, give me other best guy…It was same thing with me, you know, I just want to wish him all the best.
Khabib Nurmagomedov after UFC 311 PPV weigh-ins (🎥: @ufc)
It was at UFC 209 that Nurmagomedov was to have a third possible meeting with Tony Ferguson. However, “The Eagle” never landed on the scales due to complications with his weight cut. So, he knows a thing or two about sudden switches.
Nurmagomedov blazed through and defeated dangerous striker Edson Barboza a few months later. In another last-minute replacement, he ended up facing Al Iaquinta instead of Ferguson and gritty Hawaiian Max Holloway at UFC 223.
Other than that, it’s business as usual. Renato Moicano is a surprise entry; but a deserving one, per Coach Khabib. ‘The Eagle’ expects Tsarukyan to bounce back in a similar fashion as he and others have. He also believes Moicano will do his best to make the most of his opportunity.
Khabib Nurmagomedov weighs in on Renato Moicano
Islam Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) and Moicano (20-5-1 MMA, 12-5 UFC) both entered UFC 311 fight week with different plans. Now, they are each other’s plans. The lightweight king has lost only once to Adriano Martins. In the near past, all the champion has done is win. His 14-fight winning streak at lightweight is the longest active.
Since claiming gold, Islam Makhachev recorded three title defenses amid his win streak. The 4x Russian sambo champion touts 5 KO wins, 12 submissions, and 10 first-round finishes. He is a master in the lean-in with quite the variance in shot selection.
Makhachev is a monster chaining off singles, and teeing off hard kicks on the southpaw end. It is something that even downed Alexander Volkanovski. But coach Khabib Nurmagomedov is looking forward to the challenger Moicano as well.
Our new main event, I think Moicano he have very big experience in UFC. How many, like 10, 11 years in UFC? He have four win streak, and he’s on his prime. You know, it’s like, a good fight. Of course, it’s not like Arman and Islam, but it’s still very competitive fight and we not gonna underestimate this guy.
Khabib Nurmagomedov further said
The #UFC311 odds are in! 🚨
— UFC (@ufc) January 18, 2025
Who do you got?
[ B2YB: @DKSportsbook | 💸 https://t.co/pr5qWDnBRe ] pic.twitter.com/LAdFXfBwxu
The American Top Team camp staple Renato Moicano is a good test indeed. With 10 submissions and 4 first-round finishes, “Money” proved a threat in the lightweight lineup. With solid muay Thai in the front and off the counter, Moicano works charms in striking pockets.
He doesn’t boast the freestyle wrestling pedigree like Tsarukyan, making it a tad bit less exciting on the skill-to-skill front. But the UFC 311 title challenger is good from bodylock positions and boasts 10 wins by rear-naked choke! The transitional grappler is a big underdog in this sudden fight, per oddsmakers. But anything could happen, come this weekend.
Related: “I’m tired…” Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals timeline for retirement from coaching
Stay Updated!
Dibaas.M
(1304 Articles Published)