Tsarukyan out of UFC 311, Makhachev to defend title vs. Moicano

LOS ANGELES – The UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2025 underwent a major change Friday when lightweight title challenger Arman Tsarukyan was forced out of Saturday’s UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood with a countback.

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (26-1) will now defend his title against Renato Moicano (22-3), who was scheduled to fight Beneil Dariush on the card. UFC CEO Dana White announced the change Friday morning during the official weigh-ins. According to sources, Tsarukyan, 28, was putting on weight but was suffering from back spasms.

“(Tsarukyan) informed us that he was experiencing significant back pain,” White said. “Because of the injury, he feels he is not fit enough to compete. Renato Moicano steps in to face him.”

Makhachev, who is seeking the fourth defense of his 155-pound championship, told ESPN in a statement that he didn’t mind the last-minute change.

“Champions do not choose opponents,” said Makhachev. “As long as there’s somebody who can make 155, I’ll fight anybody.”

Moicano (20-5-1) is on a four-game winning streak and ranked No. 10 in the division. He is coming off a second-round stoppage of Benoit Saint-Denis in September.