Sat Jan 18 19:30:00 UTC 2025: **UFC 311: Tsarukyan Out, Moicano Steps In for Title Fight**
Los Angeles, CA – Arman Tsarukyan, the highly-anticipated challenger for Islam Makhachev’s lightweight title at UFC 311, has been forced to withdraw from the main event due to a severe back injury. The injury, sustained during a final sparring session last week, worsened throughout the week, ultimately preventing Tsarukyan from competing.
Tsarukyan’s coach, “Parrumpa,” revealed that while the initial injury seemed minor, it progressively worsened, culminating in the fighter being unable to stand or sit up by Thursday. Despite his initial determination to fight through the pain, the severity of the injury left him with no choice but to withdraw.
UFC president Dana White announced Renato Moicano as the late replacement for Tsarukyan, who will now face Makhachev in the main event on January 18th at the Intuit Dome. The card also features a highly anticipated bantamweight title fight between Umar Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili.
The unexpected change leaves questions surrounding Tsarukyan’s future title shot. While his impressive winning streak and near-title opportunity are undeniable, the timeline for his return and subsequent placement in the title picture remain uncertain. The UFC 311 event will still air live on ESPN+ PPV starting at 6 PM ET.
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