Dana White (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
UFC 311 will have a new main event.
On Friday, just before official weigh-ins, No. 1 contender Arman Tsarukyan pulled out of his fight against UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev due to a back injury.
UFC President Dana White made the official announcement on social media.
Renato Moicano, who was originally scheduled to fight Beneil Dariush on Saturday, will step in to replace Tsarukyan and challenge for Makhachev’s title.
Tsarukyan took to Instagram to confirm the report.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 16: Arman Tsarukyan of Georgia is seen on stage during the UFC 311 … [+] press conference at Intuit Dome on January 16, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
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“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 I’ve ever had to make in my fighting career. I would like to thank the UFC for understanding and I look forward to competing for my first UFC Championship in the future. Thank you all for your support❤️.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 17: Renato Moicano of Brazil poses on the scale during the UFC 311 … [+] official weigh-in at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown on January 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
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Moicano was fired up about the opportunity. He weighed in at championship weight on Friday, understanding that he was the alternate. Moicano reacted on X.
“Hey guess what I will be world champion tomorrow! God is so good! Thank you all the support.”
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 17: Islam Makhachev of Russia poses on the scale during the UFC 311 … [+] official weigh-in at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown on January 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
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Makhachev seemingly accepted the new opponent without hesitation. He posted this on X.
“What does this title represent? It means you’re the best in the world and if you’re the best in the world, it doesn’t matter who’s going to be standing across from you. What do I say? No? NEVER. Let’s do this!”
As of 2:30 p.m., Dariush was pulled off the card, though Michael Chandler posted on X that he would volunteer to step in for Moicano.
“Here am I, send me.”
That’s a fight many would love to see, and it would add some unexpected flair to UFC 311. Chandler was already en route to Los Angeles. We’ll see if it’s possible to keep Dariush on the card or if he’s willing to fight Chandler.
With the change to the main event, here is the new UFC 311 card.
UFC 311 Main Card (10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View)
- UFC Lightweight Title Bout: Islam Makhachev (Champion) vs. (10) Renato Moicano
- UFC Bantamweight Title Bout: Merab Dvalishvili (Champion) vs. (2) Umar Nurmagomedov
- Lightweight Bout: (9) Beneil Dariush pulled
- Light Heavyweight Bout: (2) Jiří Procházka vs. (3) Jamahal Hill
- Middleweight Bout: Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder
UFC 311 Preliminary Card (8 p.m. ET on ESPNEWS & ESPN+)
- Light Heavyweight Bout: (13) Bogdan Guskov vs. Billy Elekana
- Bantamweight Bout: Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos
- Heavyweight Bout: (6) Jailton Almeida vs. (7) Serghei Spivac
- Middleweight Bout: Zach Reese vs. Azamat Bekoev
UFC 311 Early Preliminary Card (6 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+)
- Lightweight Bout: Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira
- Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez
- Bantamweight Bout: Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafurov
- Bantamweight Bout: Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj
- Flyweight Bout: (11) Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clayton Carpenter
Stay tuned for more potential updates, weigh-in results and more heading into the UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2025.
