Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Arman Tsarukyan during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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What Happened To Arman Tsarukyan? Why Did Arman Pull Out Of UFC 311?

What caused Arman Tsarukyan to pull out of UFC 311. Know what happened to him leading to his withdrawal!

Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Arman Tsarukyan during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The first UFC pay-per-view of 2025 has hit a major roadblock just hours before the big show. While Southern California battles wildfires outside, the UFC faces its own unexpected heat inside as the main event of UFC 311 underwent a dramatic change.

Now, less than 24 hours before the start of one of the biggest cards of the year, UFC 311 is out of its highly anticipated main event, the rematch between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan.

Also Read: Updated UFC 311 Fight Card: Arman Tsarukyan Out, Renato Moicano To Get Title Shot Against Islam Makhachev

Reason For Arman Tsarukyan Out Of UFC 311

The rematch between UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan came crashing down on fight day. Arman Tsarkuyan reportedly injured his back at around 1 a.m., and this injury was severe enough to prompt him to pull out of arguably the biggest fight of his career.

Arman Tsarukyan releases a statement following his withdrawal from #UFC311:

“I regret to inform everyone that the news is that I had to pull out of UFC 311 with a back injury is true. This was the hardest decision l've ever had to make in my fighting career.

I would like to… pic.twitter.com/HTWeiYX4yM
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 17, 2025

UFC CEO Dana White broke the news through his social media channels. He explained that Tsarukyan felt he wasn’t healthy enough to compete and thus was pulling out. The implications of this could be massive for Tsarukyan. He probably would lose his stake at the title shot next, with fighters like Charles Oliveira waiting in the stands.

UFC’s Solution To The Main Event Crisis

The UFC, living up to its reputation of problem-solving on the fly, quickly found a solution in Renato Moicano. The Brazilian fighter, who was originally scheduled to face Beneil Dariush on the same card, jumped at the opportunity to challenge for gold.

🚨 BREAKING! Renato Moicano is stepping up and will be fighting Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title on short notice!

(via. @danawhite) #UFC311 #UFC #MMA

pic.twitter.com/9O8dueoYCF
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 17, 2025

Both Arman Tsarukyan and Moicano train at the American Top Team under the same head coach, making this last-minute switch somewhat smoother than it might have been otherwise. The P4P king, Makhachev, showing the composure of a true titleholder, remained unfazed by the opponent’s change.

The Ripple Effect In UFC 311 Card Started With Arman Tsarukyan Injury

Arman Tsarukyan’s injury sent ripples through the entire UFC 311 card, creating a fascinating domino effect. Beneil Dariush, who was preparing for Moicano, now finds himself without an opponent on one of the biggest cards of the year. Furthermore, Serghei Spivac vs. Jailton Almeida will now be featured on the main card.

Dana White says they’ll “take care” of Beneil Dariush following the news that Renato Moicano stepped up to fight Islam Makhachev#UFC311 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/LMulURX32u
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 17, 2025

The situation highlights the unpredictable nature of combat sports, where years of preparation can unravel in mere hours. For Arman Tsarukyan, this withdrawal comes at a particularly cruel time. He was riding high on a streak of impressive victories and had earned his shot at the title through dominant performances.

Now, as fight fans gear up for a different main event than they expected, the question remains: Will this last-minute matchup between Makhachev and Moicano deliver the same level of excitement that the original bout promised?

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Beneil Dariush

Dana White

Islam Makhachev

Renato Moicano

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!