An injured Arman Tsarukyan has been replaced in the main event of UFC 311, with Renato Moicano now challenging Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title – on one day’s notice.
Tsarukyan was due to face Makhachev on Saturday (18 January), six years after losing to the Russian via decision in a competitive fight. But a back injury prevented Tsarukyan from weighing in on Friday, and Moicano was drafted in for the Armenian-Russian, having already been scheduled for UFC 311.
Moicano, 35, was due to fight Beneil Dariush earlier on the main card, but the Brazilian has been handed the opportunity of a lifetime on one day’s notice.
“Money Moicano” will challenge Makhachev, 33, for the lightweight belt, which the latter has retained three times since becoming champion in 2022.
The Russian – a childhood friend of UFC lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, who now coaches Makhachev – submitted Charles Oliveira to win the gold, before outpointing and knocking out Alexander Volkanovski in two bouts in 2023, and submitting Dustin Poirier last June.
Oliveira is a former lightweight champion, Poirier previously held the interim 155lb title, and Volkanovski was featherweight champion during his saga with Makhachev.
Makhachev’s run as champion – and his ongoing 14-fight win streak, including his victory over Tsarukyan – have established him as the UFC’s pound-for-pound No 1 fighter.
Therefore, Moicano faces a stern test at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, but he enters UFC 311 on a four-fight win streak that includes three stoppages.
Most recently, the Brazilian scored a second-round TKO against Benoit Saint-Denis, beating the Frenchman in Paris in September. That result saw the veteran build on stoppage wins over Jalin Turner and Brad Riddell, and a decision against Drew Dober.
