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Arman Tsarukyan ‘Couldn’t Move’ After Suffering Back Injury During UFC 311 Weight Cut

UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has described the moment his ambitions of a title crowning in Los Angeles this past weekend came to a crashing halt. Tsarukyan completed his media obligations and took to the stage for a press conference appearance last week ahead of the UFC 311 pay-per-view on Saturday night. Unfortunately for the […]

UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has described the moment his ambitions of a title crowning in Los Angeles this past weekend came to a crashing halt.

Tsarukyan completed his media obligations and took to the stage for a press conference appearance last week ahead of the UFC 311 pay-per-view on Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Armenian, however, he didn’t make it to fight night.

It was announced Friday that Renato Moicano was stepping in on 24 hours’ notice to challenge Islam Makhachev after Tsarukyan suffered a back injury during his weight cut.

Many were quick to question how the original challenger had gotten hurt while using a stationary bike to cut the pounds. And during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Tsarukyan revealed that he had actually felt some discomfort the night before.

“Everything was good, but on the last day, Wednesday after training, I went to sleep and I started to feel my lower back. And I couldn’t sleep all night,” Tsarukyan said. “The next day, I thought it’s going to be good and after press conference I’m going to start my weight cut. And when I started my weight cut. I was (using the) bike and like, that moment my back was stuck and I couldn’t move.”

That physical issue not only prevented him from running it back with Makhachev inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome on Jan. 18 but also seems to have forced him to relinquish number one contender status.

After UFC CEO Dana White announced as much during the post-fight press conference, Tsarukyan himself publicly supported the decision and outlined his intentions to re-earn a title shot later this year.

Dan Hooker Doesn’t Hold Back In Assessment Of Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC 311 Pullout: ‘Daddy Can’t Buy You A Backbone’

Dan Hooker is tearing into Arman Tsarukyan for pulling out of the most significant fight of his career to date. Tsarukyan was set to face reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the headliner of UFC 311 last Saturday at the Intuit Dome in California. Unfortunately, the highly anticipated rematch faced a devastating setback when “Ahalkalakets” […]

Dan Hooker is tearing into Arman Tsarukyan for pulling out of the most significant fight of his career to date.

Tsarukyan was set to face reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the headliner of UFC 311 last Saturday at the Intuit Dome in California. Unfortunately, the highly anticipated rematch faced a devastating setback when “Ahalkalakets” withdrew just hours before the official weigh-ins due to a back injury.

Makhachev dominated Renato Moicano, who stepped in as Tsarukyan’s late replacement, securing a first-round submission to notch his fourth consecutive title defense in dominant fashion.

As if the injury wasn’t enough for the 28-year-old Armenian, things took an unexpected turn at the UFC 311 post-fight press conference. UFC CEO Dana White revealed that Tsarukyan won’t be given an immediate title shot. Instead, he’ll need to secure one or two more victories before earning being considered for another crack at the belt.

During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Hooker weighed in on Tsarukyan’s withdrawal from his first UFC title shot, expressing shock over the timing of the injury that led to the unexpected setback.

“How do you get injured on your day off?” Hooker said. “I got no idea… I thought it was pretty, pretty strange, bro, to get such a severe injury that you need to pull out when you’re cutting weight, you know?”

“The Hangman” didn’t hold back, taking sharp jabs at Tsarukyan for missing out on an immediate title shot, while mocking his apparently privileged background and his father Nairi Tsarukyan’s wealth.

“It must be a pretty severe injury. But, like, your world title is your absolutely everything. I don’t know how you would pass up on that opportunity. Yeah, like, I obviously saw Dana White just say that he ain’t getting the title shot next and he’s going to have to work his way back up to the belt, you know. Daddy can’t buy you a backbone, can he?”

Hooker is placing himself in the mix for a lightweight title shot as he’s set to clash with former interim champion Justin Gaethje in a five-round battle. The high-stakes bout will take place as the co-main event of UFC 311 on March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Arman Tsarukyan Has Surprising Reaction To Dana White Taking Away Title Shot After UFC 311 Withdrawal

It would seem that Arman Tsarukyan is no longer the number one contender at 155 pounds. Tsarukyan was gearing up last week for his first shot at championship glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. Instead of that, however, he watched on as Islam Makhachev shared the cage with Renato Moicano at UFC 311. That […]

It would seem that Arman Tsarukyan is no longer the number one contender at 155 pounds.

Tsarukyan was gearing up last week for his first shot at championship glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. Instead of that, however, he watched on as Islam Makhachev shared the cage with Renato Moicano at UFC 311.

That came about after the Armenian withdrew on weigh-in day after sustaining a back injury. Moicano was subsequently pulled from his main card clash with Beneil Dariush and handed a sudden title opportunity, which he was unable to capitalize on.

After quickly submitting the Brazilian by way of a D’Arce choke, Makhachev’s reign has reached a record-breaking four successful defenses. And when it comes to his attempt at a fifth, there’s some uncertainty over opposition.

During his press conference inside the Intuit Dome, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Tsarukyan would not be keeping his title shot following his injury dropout.

Interestingly, that decision has been supported by the man himself.

I agree with @danawhite. Once my back heals, I’ll be ready to prove I’m the true #1 contender by taking on anyone they put in front of me! https://t.co/LAI2khcxCX

— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) January 19, 2025

“I agree with @danawhite. Once my back heals, I’ll be ready to prove I’m the true #1 contender by taking on anyone they put in front of me!” Tsarukyan wrote on X.

Tsarukyan also identified a potential opponent, green-lighting a rematch with Charles Oliveira in a subsequent post.

After recording a second win over Michael Chandler last November, “Do Bronx” was expecting to face the winner of the original UFC 311 main event later this year.

But with the division appearing to be without a definitive next in line — assuming White’s remarks on Tsarukyan’s status prove true — perhaps the Brazilian will have the chance to avenge his UFC 300 setback to the Armenian.

Arman Tsarukyan Has Surprising Reaction To Dana White Taking Away Title Shot After UFC 311 Withdrawal

It would seem that Arman Tsarukyan is no longer the number one contender at 155 pounds.

During his press conference inside the Intuit Dome, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Tsarukyan would not be keeping his title shot following his injury dropout.

Interestingly, that decision has been supported by the man himself.

I agree with @danawhite. Once my back heals, I’ll be ready to prove I’m the true #1 contender by taking on anyone they put in front of me! https://t.co/LAI2khcxCX

— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) January 19, 2025

“I agree with @danawhite. Once my back heals, I’ll be ready to prove I’m the true #1 contender by taking on anyone they put in front of me!” Tsarukyan wrote on X.

Tsarukyan also identified a potential opponent, green-lighting a rematch with Charles Oliveira in a subsequent post.

After recording a second win over Michael Chandler last November, “Do Bronx” was expecting to face the winner of the original UFC 311 main event later this year.

Khabib Nurmagomedov Shares Candid Thoughts on Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC 311 Withdrawal

Khabib Nurmagomedov wishes nothing but the best for Arman Tsarukyan. Hours away from his first shot at UFC gold,…

Khabib Nurmagomedov wishes nothing but the best for Arman Tsarukyan.

Hours away from his first shot at UFC gold, Tsarukyan was forced to bow out of Saturday’s headliner against Islam Makhachev in Los Angeles due to an injured back. The news came as a shock to fighters and fans alike, but fortunately, the UFC was able to pluck another top-10 fighter from the card and insert them into the main event with relative ease.

That man being none other than rising lightweight star Renato Moicano.

While backstage at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins in Inglewood, Makhachev’s coach and mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, offered his take on the sudden shake-up and shared some words of encouragement to Tsarukyan, recalling a similar incident he himself endured during his own race to the lightweight title.

“Honestly, I knew this yesterday, at 1 A.M. before I sleep. Honestly, this can happen with anybody. If you guys remember [in] 2017, March, it happened with me too. Then after that, I go to hospital, make surgery, come back and I tell UFC, ‘It was my mistake, give me other best guy. I’m going to beat this guy and deserve my title shot.’ It was the same thing with me. I just want to wish him all the best. He’s young. He’s tough. He can come back. He [has] to survive this situation and come back,” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Khabib Refuses to underestimate ‘money’ moicano

Unsurprisingly, Makhachev is a massive -1100 favorite to come out on top against Moicano inside the Intuit Dome. Despite those wide odds, ‘The Eagle’ knows that counting out someone as dangerous and experienced as ‘Money’ would be a massive mistake.

“Now, new main event. I think with Moicano, he has very big experience in the UFC… 10, 11 years in UFC. He [has four-fight] win streak, and he’s on his prime. It’s a good fight. Of course, it’s not like Arman and Islam, but it’s still very competitive fight, and we [are] not going to underestimate this guy.”

Moicano goes into his first UFC title opportunity riding a four-fight win streak and a winner in six of his last seven, including Ws against notable names like Drew Dober, Jalin Turner, and Benoit Saint-Denis.

No Worries for Islam Makhachev as He Prepares to Fight Renato Moicano at UFC 311

Islam Makhachev doesn’t really care who’s standing across from him at UFC 311. Up until a few short hours…

Islam Makhachev doesn’t really care who’s standing across from him at UFC 311.

Up until a few short hours ago, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ was prepared to defend his lightweight title against the division’s top-ranked contender, Arman Tsarukayn, on Saturday night inside the Intuit Dome in L.A. However, that is no longer the case after ‘Ahalkalakets’ was forced to bow out of the bout on Friday morning due to a back injury.

Instead, Makhachev will put his gold on the line against rising star Renato Moicano who was originally set to face perennial contender Beneil Dariush as part of the evening’s main card.

When UFC CEO Dana White broke the news during Friday’s official weigh-in show, he insisted that Makhachev was willing to take on anyone the promotion chose to put in front of him. Makhachev echoed a similar sentiment on social media not long after news of Moicano’s move up the card made waves.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Islam_Makhachev (@islam_makhachev)

“What does this title represent?,” Makhachev wrote on Instagram. “It means you are the best in the world and if you are 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!”

Islam Makhachev is a massive betting favorite against ‘money’ moicano

Unsurprisingly, Makhachev emerged as a massive -1100 favorite to come out on top against Moicano, meaning that if you want to win $100 betting on the Dagestani, you’ll have to throw down $1,100.

For what it’s worth, Moicano goes into the short-notice title tilt with the longest active win streak at lightweight, including wins against Drew Dober and Jalin Turner, and an absolutely dominant performance against Benoit Saint-Denis in his last outing.

‘Money’ currently sits at a +700 underdog. That means a $100 bet on the Brazilian could net you $700 should he score what would be one of the biggest upsets in mixed martial arts history.