Arman Tsarukyan dropping out of UFC 311 cost him a shot at becoming lightweight champion and it turns out it’s going to cost him even more than that.
A back injury that prevented Tsarukyan from competing against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the originally scheduled main event forced the UFC to scramble and find a replacement, with Renato Moicano accepting the opportunity on just 24 hours’ notice. Makhachev made quick work of Moicano after locking up a D’Arce choke submission in the opening round to successfully defend his title for the fourth consecutive time.
While Makhachev likely walked away from his latest fight unscathed, he’ll have to wait and see who gets the next shot at his title because it won’t be Tsarukyan.
“He’s not getting a title shot,” UFC CEO Dana White said about what’s next for Tsarukyan at the UFC 311 post-fight press conference. “That means he’s going to have to fight his way back to the title.”
That has to be disappointing news for Tsarukyan, who had defined himself as the No. 1 contender prior to a disastrous last-minute injury that prevented him from fighting Saturday. Tsarukyan has rattled off four straight wins, including victories over Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush, but he’ll need at least one more before potentially getting another shot at the UFC lightweight title.
White wouldn’t speculate about the severity of the back injury that plagued Tsarukyan and prevented him from competing, but dropping off the card obviously created chaos for the UFC.
“He’s going back to the drawing board,” White said about Tsarukyan. “I don’t want anybody to ever fight hurt, ever. We’ve been in these positions before.
“Went down there with the doctor, went down there with Heather [Linden] from the [UFC Performance Institute], who you can ask any fighter or anybody else, she’s the best in the world and you miss opportunities sometimes and he did. So we’ll see how this plays out for him next year.”
White didn’t say if he believed Tsarukyan could have potentially fought through the injury, but the way things played out, it will still cost the 28-year-old contender in the long run.
“I have no idea [if he actually could have fought],” White said. “I don’t know that. Only he knows that.”
For his part, Tsarukyan has no problem earning his way to another title shot after addressing White’s remarks from the post fight press conference.
“I agree with Dana White,” Tsarukyan wrote on Twitter. “Once my back heals, I’ll be ready to prove I’m the true No. 1 contender by taking on anyone they put in front of me!
“Charles Oliveira in a five rounder makes [the] most sense.”
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
@CharlesDoBronxs in 5 rounder makes most sense
— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) January 19, 2025
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