UFC 311: Arman Tsarukyan out of main event with injury, Islam Makhachev to defend title against Renato Moicano
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ByEurosport
Updated 17/01/2025 at 20:02 GMT
Pound-for-pound superstar Islam Makhachev will now defend his UFC lightweight title against Renato Moicano on Saturday evening, as Arman Tsarukyan has pulled out of the main event through injury. UFC supremo Dana White confirmed Tsarukyan has a back problem. UFC 311 is live from Los Angeles on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Makhachev talks potential Muhammad fight and wanting 'second UFC belt'
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Asman Tsarukyan has withdrawn from his lightweight championship rematch against Islam Makhachev on Saturday due to a back injury.
Renato Moicano will now take Tsarukyan's place for the new headline fight of UFC 311, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, as the Brazilian enters the fray at the last minute.
It means that Tsarukyan will miss the chance to gain revenge following defeat in the first fight between the pair six years ago.
Speculation that Tsarukyan would miss UFC 311 started to circulate during the weigh-ins, and has since been confirmed.
UFC president Dana White then announced the news and said: "At around 1am we received a call from Asman Tsarukyan, who informed us that he was experiencing significant back pain.
"Due to the injury, he feels like he is not healthy enough to compete. So he is out of the fight. Stepping in to fight Islam Makhachev for the fight will be Renato Moicano.
"Moicano has been on the tear since moving up to 155lbs, and currently holds the longest active win streak amongst all fighters in the top 10 of the lightweight division.
"He's won six of his last seven fights, including his last four in a row with three of those coming by finish.
"The guy is an absolute savage and every fight he's in, is a war. He weighed in on championship weight to be prepared as the back-up in case something happened.
"When we spoke to him this morning, I can tell you he wants this fight. And when I told Islam, he said: 'Brother, I am the champion, I don't care who it is; I will fight anyone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the world, Islam Makhachev v Renato Moicano for the lightweight title, live tomorrow night at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. I will see you there!"
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Makhachev: Real fans know who is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter
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Makhachev's aim is already looking past Saturday's fight, as he wants a meeting with Belal Muhammand next.
He said: "It's not my job, it's my goal. I'm not going to leave this sport without a second belt.
"[Belal] is my friend, we were training last week together. We will talk, anything can change very quick. I am not planning to retire, I have time."
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