Not Moicano, But This Fighter Was Trying To Step In As A Replacement For Arman Tsarukyan At UFC 311

Not Moicano, But This Fighter Was Trying To Step In As A Replacement For Arman Tsarukyan At UFC 311!

A fighter, not Moicano, was attempting to replace Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311. Discover the full story here!

Not Moicano, But This Fighter Was Trying To Step In As A Replacement For Arman Tsarukyan At UFC 311

The fight game can change in the blink of an eye. Yesterday’s undercard fighter could become today’s main event star. When Arman Tsarukyan had to pull out of UFC 311’s headliner against Islam Makhachev due to back issues, the MMA world went into a frenzy.

While Renato Moicano eventually got the golden ticket, several fighters threw their names into the hat.

Diego Lopes Offered To Step In On Short Notice Against Makhachev for UFC 311!

This included the rising featherweight sensation Diego Lopes, who has been on a tear since his debut in the UFC. He showed the kind of fighter’s spirit that fans love. Taking to social media, he revealed his attempt to seize what could have been a life-changing opportunity.

“We tried, but it couldn’t be done. Remember, there is only one life, and it is made to take advantage of opportunities.”

Diego Lopes reveals that he tried to step in and fight Islam Makhachev on short notice, but "it couldn't be done" 😭

"There is only one life and it is made to take advantage of opportunities."#UFC311 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/cBzBvNLa6B
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 17, 2025

Despite competing in a lighter weight class, Diego Lopes wasn’t fazed by the challenge of facing the dominant lightweight champion. While some might call it crazy to jump up a weight class on such short notice, this kind of boldness is exactly what makes MMA so thrilling.

Also Read: What happened to Arman Tsarukyan?

Other UFC Stars Who Offered To Save The Day

The MMA community witnessed quite a show of bravado as several high-profile fighters raised their hands to face Makhachev. Alexander Volkanovski, still nursing the wounds from his previous encounters with Makhachev, couldn’t help but wonder why his phone didn’t ring. His tweet, “Why didn’t you call me??” almost had a hint of that friend who feels left out of weekend plans.

Why didn’t you call me??
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) January 17, 2025

Hit me up @ufc 💸 https://t.co/F1Ky2Fajlx
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) January 17, 2025

Michael Chandler kept it biblical with his “Here am I, send me“ post, while Dustin Poirier’s simple “Hit me up @UFC” showed he was ready to run it back with Makhachev. Even Charles Oliveira got creative, posting a video from the sauna – subtle hint much?

Here am I, send me….
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) January 17, 2025

Charles Oliveira just posted a video of himself in the sauna following the news that Arman Tsarukyan is out of the fight against Islam Makhachev 👀

🎥 @CharlesDoBronxs #UFC #MMA #UFC311 pic.twitter.com/MyALGJt0dW
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 17, 2025

The whole situation showed how hungry these fighters are for big opportunities. When a championship fight opens up, weight classes suddenly become mere suggestions, and previous losses are forgotten. It’s this kind of warrior mentality that keeps fans coming back for more, even if some offers might seem a bit outlandish!

(Image Credit: UFC -X)

Alexander Volkanovksi

Arman Tsarukyan

Charles Oliveira

Diego Lopes

Dustin Poirier

Islam Makhachev

Michael Chandler

Renato Moicano

Zaid Quraishi

mma

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!