Saturday’s UFC 311 main event has undergone a drastic change after lightweight title challenger Arman Tsarukyan has been forced to withdraw due to a back injury.
Tsarukyan, who was scheduled to fight 155-pound champion Islam Makhachev in the featured bout at Intuit Dome, was one of the last fighters waited upon for Friday’s weigh-ins. As the 11 a.m. deadline grew nearer, concerns grew.
Less than a half hour before the deadline, UFC CEO and President Dana White announced via social media that the organization received a call from Tsarukyan about 1 a.m. Friday saying he was going to be unable to compete due to the injury.
In Tsarukyan’s place, Renato Moicano has been elevated to the main event. The brash Brazilian, winner of four in a row, was scheduled to fight Placentia’s Beneil Dariush on the main card. He weighed in Friday morning at the championship weight limit of 155 pounds – as did Dariush – in case he was needed as the backup for the main event.
White said when Makhachev was told of the change, he said: “Brother, I don’t care who it is. I will fight anyone.”
The switch results in two massive disappointments. Dariush, who trained weeks for this fight near his hometown and made weight Friday morning, is off the card. White said the UFC will take care of Dariush and figure out his situation.
The second is what was anticipated to be a massive showing of support for Tsarukyan. Born in the country of Georgia and of Armenian descent, Tsarukyan said Wednesday at media day that he was expecting a partisan crowd of his Armenian brethren.
“A lot of people text me like, ‘We’re coming,’” Tsarukyan said. “Groups and like, a lot of MMA G’s here in L.A, in Glendale especially. Thousands coming to watch my fight.”