Arman Tsarukyan Issues Statement Following UFC 311 Withdrawal

Arman Tsarukyan Issues Statement Following UFC 311 WithdrawalArman Tsarukyan is shedding some light on his shocking withdrawal from Saturday’s UFC 311 headliner in Los Angeles. Emanating…

Arman Tsarukyan Issues Statement Following UFC 311 Withdrawal

Arman Tsarukyan is shedding some light on his shocking withdrawal from Saturday’s UFC 311 headliner in Los Angeles.

Emanating from the Intuit Dome, ‘Ahalkalakets’ was scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title in the evening’s main event. However, Tsarukyan left fight fans shocked when UFC CEO Dana White revealed during Friday’s official weigh-in show that he had bowed out of the bout due to a back injury.

Few other details about Tsarukyan’s exit had been offered up to that point, but before long, the Armenian took to social media and offered some insight into his injury and the difficult decision to pull out of his golden opportunity.

“I regret to inform everyone that the news is that I had to pull out of UFC 311 with a back injury is true,” Tsarukyan wrote on Instagram. “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.”

Tsarukyan is out, Moicano is in

Now, Islam Makhachev will defend his title against the lightweight division’s 10th-ranked contender, Renato Moicano.

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Money’ was originally set to compete on the main card against perennial contender Beneil Dariush. Unfortunately for Dariush, there was no time to secure him a replacement opponent.

“Family and friends, unfortunately, I’m not fighting tomorrow,” Dariush wrote on Instagram. “Due to changes in the card I been left as the odd man out. I appreciate Dana White and UFC for giving me an opportunity to fight in my hometown and taking care of me even though I’m not fighting. I believe God has something better for me and I will wait faithfully to see how it unfolds.”

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UFC 311: Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

UFC 311 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins! The upcoming pay-per-view event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California provides a chance for UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev to record his fourth successful title defense. While that was initially set to come […]

UFC 311 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

The upcoming pay-per-view event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California provides a chance for UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev to record his fourth successful title defense.

While that was initially set to come in the form of a rematch opposite top contender Arman Tsarukyan, a back injury sustained during his weight cut forced the planned challenger to withdraw. Stepping in on 24 hours’ notice will be Renato Moicano, who was originally slated to share the cage with Beneil Dariush on Saturday’s main card.

The stakes will also be high in the co-main event, which will see undefeated bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili look to complete his ascent to the top by unseating current kingpin Merab Dvalishvili in his first defense.

Elsewhere on the UFC 311 card, a pair of former light heavyweight champs in Ji?í Procházka and Jamahal Hill collide, the always entertaining Kevin Holland meets ex-ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder, and Jailton Almeida and Serghei Spivac battle to establish themselves in the heavyweight title picture.

Ahead of the event, all fighters set to compete tomorrow night successfully made weight, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 311 ceremonial weigh-ins!

Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 7 PM ET.

UFC 311 Ceremonial Weigh-In Video

Ex-UFC champion Chris Weidman announces official retirement from combat sports

Ex-UFC champion Chris Weidman announces official retirement from combat sportsFormer undisputed middleweight champion, Chris Weidman has confirmed his retirement from UFC competition tonight with immediate effect, bringing the…

Ex-UFC champion Chris Weidman announces official retirement from combat sports

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Chris Weidman has confirmed his retirement from UFC competition tonight with immediate effect, bringing the curtain down on a gold laden mixed martial arts career dating back to a 2009 debut.

Weidman, a former undisputed middleweight titleholder under the banner of the UFC, has been sidelined from competition since returning at UFC 310 last month, taking on Eryk Anders in a rescheduled light heavyweight pairing, where he dropped a second round knockout loss.

Chris Weidman
Image via: Getty

Returning to action following a gruelly compound fracture of his right leg back in 2020, Baldwin veteran, Weidman made good on his return from injury with a controversial decision win over Brazilian contender, Bruno Silva at UFC Fight NIght Atlantic City last March, which came as his final mixed martial arts victory.

Chris Weidman defends UFC Atlantic City win over Bruno Silva eye pokes he was looking for a way out
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

Chris Weidman confirms UFC retirement tonight

And tonight during the UFC 311 weigh-in show, Chris Weidman confirmed his retirement from mixed martial arts competition, departing the UFC as a result.

“Since I decided to get into this sport, since 2009, the goal was to be a UFC fighter,” Chris Weidman said on the UFC 311 weigh-in show.. “Then immediately the goal was to be a UFC world champion. Fourteen years later, I’m here and I’m here to tell you guys I’m hanging up the gloves in the UFC. I’m no longer going to be fighting for the organization that changed my life in so many ways. I’m just super appreciative to everybody that got me here.”

“It’s been a ride. From being an undefeated world champion and being able to beat one of the greatest of all time in Anderson Silva, and then being able to defend my belt three times against some of the greatest legends of the sport,” Chris Weidman explained. “Even from the amount I’ve learned about myself in dealing with adversity and injuries, I’ve had 30 surgeries. I put my body through a lot and to be able to overcome a lot of that was always tough.

“I’m just proud that the UFC gave me an outlet to compete against some of the best guys in the world. I’m proud of the résumé and the type of guys I was able to fight. I respect them all so much.”

Winning Octagon spoils back in 2013, Weidman ended the legendary middleweight run of Anderson Silva with a brutal knockout win, before landing another victory over the Brazilian later than same annum, with the Brazilian fracturing his own leg in devastating fashion.

Chris Weidman urged to retire from MMA after UFC 292 loss by Dana White
Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara – USA TODAY Sports

Defending the middleweight crown on three occasions total, Weidman would take out both former promotional champions, Lyoto Machida, and Vitor Belfort with decision and knockout successes, respectively.

Moicano Vows To ‘Shock The World’ Against Makhachev

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Let today’s UFC 311 drama serve as a reminder to all contenders who compete in the same division (and on the same fight card) as the current champion, because you never know when the promo…


UFC 281: Riddell v Moicano
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Let today’s UFC 311 drama serve as a reminder to all contenders who compete in the same division (and on the same fight card) as the current champion, because you never know when the promotion is going to need a last-minute replacement.

Renato Moicano tipped the scale at 155 pounds for his Beneil Dariush fight on Jan. 18 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. But No. 1-ranked title contender, Arman Tsarukyan, was unable to stay in the lineup, forcing matchmakers to scramble for a new opponent.

Islam Makhachev will now defend his 155-pound title against the red-hot Brazilian.

“Money Moicano is coming for the belt! Be ready, Islam Makhachev,” Moicano said in a Twitter video posted by UFC. “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 it 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. Be ready because I am. This is ‘Money’ Moicano, and tomorrow I’m going to become champion of the world. Let’s f*cking go.”

Sadly, Dariush will be sent to the sidelines to await his next assignment.

“Family and friends, unfortunately I’m not fighting tomorrow,” Dariush wrote on Instagram. “Due to changes in the card I been left as the odd man out. I appreciate Dana White and UFC for giving me an opportunity to fight in my hometown and taking care of me even though I’m not fighting. I believe God has something better for me and I will wait faithfully to see how it unfolds.”

To see the revised UFC 311 fight card click here.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 311 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early Disney+/FX/ESPN+ preliminary card matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining four-fight undercard balance on Disney+/ESPNN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 311 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 311: “Makhachev vs. Moicano” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 311 fight card and PPV lineup click here.

Islam Makhachev Reacts To Late-Notice UFC 311 Opponent Change: ‘It Doesn’t Matter Who’

Islam Makhachev remains unfazed by whoever stands across from him in the Octagon on Saturday night, as he’s focused on accomplishing the task at hand. Makhachev was initially slated to defend his lightweight title against former rival Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311 this weekend at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. […]

Islam Makhachev remains unfazed by whoever stands across from him in the Octagon on Saturday night, as he’s focused on accomplishing the task at hand.

Makhachev was initially slated to defend his lightweight title against former rival Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311 this weekend at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

However, on Friday morning, the headliner took an unforeseen turn when UFC CEO Dana White announced that “Ahalkalakets” had been forced to withdraw from the rematch due to a back injury.

Makhachev will now square off against Renato Moicano in the newly revamped main event of UFC 311. Originally scheduled to face Beneil Dariush in a 155-pound clash on the main card, “Money” has now seized the eleventh-hour opportunity to challenge for the UFC title after Tsarukyan’s injury sidelined the original matchup.

The Dagestani champion embraced the unanticipated shift, proudly echoing his own quote, which White had prominently displayed on the walls of the UFC Performance Institute.

“‘What does this title represent? It means you’re the best in the world and if you’re the best in the world, it doesn’t matter who’s going to be standing across from you. What do I say? No? NEVER. Let’s do this!’” Makhachev wrote on X.

Makhachev is riding a remarkable 14-fight win streak, with his most recent appearance at UFC 303 in June 2024. There, he secured a gritty fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier to successfully retain his title.

Meanwhile, Moicano is on a four-fight win streak and has been relentless since his move to the 155-pound division, boasting six victories in his last seven bouts. “Money” enters this title fight on the back of a dominant second-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage) over Benoît Saint Denis at UFC Paris in September.

Arman Statement On Back Injury, UFC 311 Withdrawal

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

No. 1-ranked lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan, was expected to challenge reigning division kingpin, Islam Makhachev, for the 155-pound title at UFC 311 this Sat. night (Jan. 18, 2025…


UFC 311: Makhachev vs Tsarukyan 2 - Press Conference
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

No. 1-ranked lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan, was expected to challenge reigning division kingpin, Islam Makhachev, for the 155-pound title at UFC 311 this Sat. night (Jan. 18, 2025) on pay-per-view (PPV). Instead, he’ll watch late-replacement, Renato Moicano, chase that dream from inside Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California.

For much more on today’s dramatic turn of events click here.

“I regret to inform everyone that the news is that I had to pull out of UFC 311 with a back injury is true,” Tsarukyan wrote on Instagram. “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.”

Moicano’s original opponent, Beneil Dariush, will be rebooked for an upcoming event.

“Family and friends, unfortunately I’m not fighting tomorrow,” Dariush wrote on Instagram. “Due to changes in the card I been left as the odd man out. I appreciate Dana White and UFC for giving me an opportunity to fight in my hometown and taking care of me even though I’m not fighting. I believe God has something better for me and I will wait faithfully to see how it unfolds.”

To see the revised UFC 311 fight card click here.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 311 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early Disney+/FX/ESPN+ preliminary card matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining four-fight undercard balance on Disney+/ESPNN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 311 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 311: “Makhachev vs. Moicano” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 311 fight card and PPV lineup click here.