UFC 311: Arman Tsarukyan banned, Renato Moicano steps in to face Islam Makhachev for lightweight title

The weigh-in day at UFC 311 provided a major twist, with Armenian competitor Arman Tsarukyan sensationally disqualified from his lightweight title fight with champion Islam Makhachev on Saturday night.

Replacing him is Brazil’s in-form contender Renato Moicano, who was due to face Beneil Dariush on the same card in California, but now gets the chance to challenge for championship gold with just one day’s notice.

UFC boss White broke the news on the official UFC 311 Weigh-In Show when he explained the timeline of events that led to the last-minute change to the main event.

More news: UFC 311: Former UFC champion Jiri Prochazka and Dana White team up to donate $100,000 to cancer patients

“Around 1 o’clock last night we got a call from Arman Tsarukyan and he told us he had severe back pain and felt he wasn’t healthy enough to compete. So he’s out,” White explained.

“So, step in to face Islam Makhachev for the title, Renato Moicano. He’s been on a tear since moving up to 155 pounds and has the longest active streak of any top 10 fighter in the lightweight division.

“Six of his last seven, including his last four in a row, with three of them coming on goals. He’s a wild one. He’s going to step up and right. Every fight he’s in is a war, and when we called Islam Makhachev, he said, ‘Brother, I’m the champion, I fight with anyone, I don’t care.’

“Then the new fight – the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano for the lightweight title tomorrow night at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.”

White revealed that Moicano was aware of the possibility that there could be an opening in the main event and made sure he hit the championship weight to ensure he was eligible to step in and challenge for the title.

“Last night he was aware and obviously he didn’t weigh in at ’56. He had to weigh in at 155 to make championship weight.”

The new fight offers plenty of intrigue, with Moicano bringing a very different style to the cage than Tsarukyan, while Makhachev offers the Brazilian a completely different kind of test to his original opponent, Dariush.

The dramatic change has added to the level of excitement ahead of fight night in Inglewood, California, as Moicano bids to upset Makhachev on a day’s notice.

“It’s fascinating. For both guys, they prepared to fight guys with different styles,” White said.

“I don’t know. Anything could happen when guys step up and take those opportunities. You know, I love this. When a guy gets an opportunity and he takes it.

“And Islam again. Such a gangster. I’m master. I don’t care. I’m going to bed. Whoever I wake up fighting tomorrow, I’m fine with.”

More to follow…

For more on UFC, go to Newsweek Sports.