Arman Tsarukyan withdrew from his UFC 311 fight against Islam Makhachev due to injury, with Renato Moicano stepping in as a replacement, sparking various reactions from the MMA community.
Arman Tsarukyan is out. Renato Moicano is in. Islam Makhachev still headlines UFC 311. Everyone’s buzzing about it.
At Friday’s UFC 311 weigh-ins, it was revealed that Tsarukyan had to withdraw due to an injury. This left a gap in the main event against lightweight champ Makhachev at Intuit Dome, Inglewood, Calif., on Saturday.
Renato Moicano steps up, replacing Tsarukyan. Originally set to fight Beneil Dariush on the main card, Moicano now faces a golden opportunity.
Both Moicano and Dariush hit championship weight, qualifying them as backups for the main event. Moicano’s on a four-fight win streak; he’s ready to challenge not just the UFC’s top lightweight but also the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter globally.
Fighters like Dustin Poirier and Diego Lopes threw their hats into the ring for this chance too. Others? Just awestruck by the sudden change in the first UFC pay-per-view of 2025.
Curious about fighter reactions? Check social media snippets below.
“What does this title represent?” asks Makhachev Islam on Twitter. It means being the best globally. He’s game for whoever stands across from him. “Let’s do this!”
Belal Muhammad draws parallels: Khabib vs. Al Iaquinta, now Islam vs. Moicano. Stories aligning in unexpected ways.
Kelvin Gastelum praises Makhachev: “1 DAY NOTICE… ISLAM MAKHACHEV is a BAD ASS MOFO!” That’s how a #1 P4P should look—legendary title run!
Michael Chandler caught off guard mid-flight to LA: “Wow… What a sport we are in… #ufc311.”
Alan Jouban exclaims over the last-minute shakeup: “Holy crap! Thankfully, UFC’s prepared, and we still get a good fight.” But he longs for that Arman bout next.
Terrance McKinney wonders aloud: “Does Beneil need a catch weight fight?”
The unpredictability of MMA—it’s what keeps fans glued to their screens!