In a significant blow to the upcoming UFC 311 pay-per-view, the highly anticipated lightweight title fight between champion Islam Makhachev and challenger Arman Tsarukyan has been cancelled. Tsarukyan has been forced to withdraw due to an injury sustained during his weight cut, throwing the main event into disarray.
Injury Forces Tsarukyan Out of Title Shot
Arman Tsarukyan has reportedly stepped down from his lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev, with Renato Moicano stepping in as a replacement. The Armenian fighter's team confirmed the unfortunate news, stating the injury occurred while cutting the final kilogram for the bout. This marks a major shift for the UFC 311 card, disappointing fans who were eagerly awaiting the clash.
"Unfortunately, we withdrew from the fight due to Arman's injury, which he sustained during the last kilogram...which makes this a difficult decision for all of us," a statement read. Tsarukyan’s brother, Artur, posted on social media, corroborating that the title challenger was hurt during the final stage of his weight cut.
Topuria's Absence and Tsarukyan's Grappling Plans
Despite previously missing out on a title chance, Tsarukyan had remained active, defeating Dan Hooker and being scheduled to fight Ilia Topuria for the gold. However, with champion Ilia Topuria taking time off for private reasons, Tsarukyan found himself free to participate in grappling events. This led to questions about a potential grappling super-fight with Islam Makhachev.
Tsarukyan, however, poured cold water on those prospects in the short term. He explained that a grappling match with the current welterweight champion is financially improbable. "In the short term, this grappling match won’t happen because Islam makes very big money in the UFC. I don’t think anybody can afford to pay him that amount of money," Tsarukyan stated.
Topuria's Verbal Volley and White's Interim Plan
Even while on vacation, Ilia Topuria has been making headlines. During an interview at WOW 25: Madrid, the UFC lightweight champion took shots at Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Arman Tsarukyan. Topuria boldly claimed he was stronger than both Makhachev and Tsarukyan, but added a curious caveat: after defeating Makhachev, he would "surrender" to the retired Khabib.
Meanwhile, UFC CEO Dana White has been proactive in managing the lightweight division's turbulence. With Topuria unavailable, White set up a temporary lightweight title fight between popular contenders Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje to keep the division moving. This ensures the spotlight remains on the 155-pound weight class despite the recent setbacks.
The situation remains fluid for Arman Tsarukyan. His path back to a title shot will now depend on his recovery timeline and the outcomes of the upcoming interim title fight and Topuria's return. For now, UFC 311 moves forward with a reshuffled main event, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.
