Arman Tsarukyan issues statement of sudden withdrawal

LOS ANGELES – Arman Tsarukyan is understandably devastated after having to pull out of his first UFC championship fight.

UFC 311 saw a sudden and unexpected big change on Friday when it was announced during official weigh-ins that Tsarukyan was out of the main event due to a back injury. In his first statement on InstagramTsarukyan confirmed that his back is injured, although he did not describe the extent or how it occurred.

“I’m sorry to inform everyone that the news that I had to pull out of UFC 311 with a back injury is true,” Tsarukyan wrote. “This was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my fighting career. I want to thank the UFC for their understanding and I look forward to competing for my first UFC championship in the future. Thank you all for your support.”

Tsarukyan had been set to rematch lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who will remain in the headliner against last-minute replacement Renato Moicano at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Moicano was originally booked to fight Beneil Dariush, who has been removed from the card.

Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), who is on a four-fight winning streak, was hoping to get some measure of revenge after losing to Makhachev in his UFC debut six years ago.