Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) reacts after defeating Renato Moicano (not pictured) in a lightweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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Islam Makhachev Had A “Gladiator” Moment After Hearing Of Arman Tsarukyan’s Pullout From UFC 311

Champion Islam Makhachev reacts to Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC 311 title fight pullout with a “Gladiator” moment!

In the high-stakes world of UFC championship fights, last-minute changes can send everyone into panic mode, especially the fighters. When Arman Tsarukyan had to withdraw from UFC 311’s main event due to a back injury, most champions might have hesitated or even pulled out themselves.

But Islam Makhachev channeled his inner Russell Crowe from Gladiator. The reigning lightweight champion, who has been on an incredible 14-fight winning streak, showed exactly why he is considered the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.

Also Read: Islam Makhachev Reveals To Daniel Cormier The Family Member Who Never Watches His Fights!

Islam Makhachev’s Reaction To Arman Tsarukyan’s Withdrawal

Makhachev’s reaction to the news was something straight out of a warrior’s handbook. His message was simple. He was ready to fight anyone. Like his predecessor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, who said, “If King Kong can make 155, I will fight him,” he channeled the same energy.

“When the gladiator come to the arena, he never choses opponent… just send me contract that’s it. Tomorrow night it doesn’t matter who’s going to step to the cage, I’m gonna smash them there.”

🥶💪Islam Makhachev’s reaction to his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, telling him Arman Tsarukyan had pulled out of their fight:

“When the gladiator come to the arena, he never choses opponent…just send me contract that’s it.

Tomorrow night it doesn’t matter who’s going to step to… pic.twitter.com/ydTuDPU6Pl
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) January 18, 2025

Islam Makhachev backed it up by agreeing to face Renato Moicano on just 48 hours’ notice. This kind of response from Makhachev did more than just save UFC 311. It showcased why he has become such a dominant force in the lightweight division. While some champions might use a last-minute opponent change as an excuse to postpone, Makhachev treated it differently, showcasing his ‘anytime, anywhere’ mentality.

Read More: What happened to Arman Tsarukyan?

The P4P king went on to dominate Renato Moicano in the first round. He locked in his signature D’Arce choke that forced the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt to tap out. Despite not training for him, Islam Makhachev showed why he is such a force of nature.

Makhachev’s attitude reminds fans why they love this sport – sometimes it’s not about who is fighting, but how they approach the fight. In this case, Islam Makhachev approached it like a true gladiator, though with better career prospects than most Roman arena fighters!

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Islam Makhachev

UFC 311

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!