Dana White (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UFC 311 will have a new main event.
On Friday, shortly before the official weigh-ins, #1 contender Arman Tsarukyan pulled out of his fight against UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev due to a back injury.
UFC President Dana White did official announcement on social networks.
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: Georgia’s Arman Tsarukyan is seen on stage during UFC 311 … [+]
“I regret to inform everyone that the news that I have had to pull out of UFC 311 with a back injury is true. This was the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my fighting career. I would like 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 ❤️.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 17: Renato Moicano of Brazil poses at the weigh-in during UFC 311 … [+]
Moicano was fired up for the opportunity. He weighed in at the championship on Friday, realizing it was the alternative. Moicano has reacted to X.
“Hey guess what I’ll be world champion tomorrow! God is very good! Thank you all for your support.”
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 17: Russia’s Islam Makhachev poses at the weigh-in during UFC 311 … [+]
Makhachev apparently accepted the new opponent without hesitation. it posted this on X.
“What does that title stand for? It means you’re the best in the world, and if you’re the best in the world, it doesn’t matter who’s standing in front of you. What can I say? No? EVER Let’s do this!”
However, by 2:30 p.m., Dariush was removed from the card Michael Chandler posted on X that he would volunteer for Moicano.
“Here I am, send me.”
This is a fight that many would like to see and would add some unexpected flair to UFC 311. Chandler was already on his way 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 in main event, here is the new UFC 311 card.
UFC 311 Main Card (10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View)
- UFC Welterweight Title Fight: Islam Makhachev (Champ) vs. (10) Renato Moicano
- UFC Bantamweight Title Fight: Merab Dvalishvili (Champ) vs. (2) Umar Nurmagomedov
- Lightweight bout: (9) Beneil Dariush drew
- Lightweight 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 and ESPN+)
- Lightweight bout: (13) Bogdan Guskov vs. Billy Elekana
- Bantamweight fight: Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos
- Heavyweight fight: (6) Jailton Almeida vs. (7) Serghei Spivac
- Middleweight bout: Zach Reese vs. Azamat Bekoev
UFC 311 preliminary card (6 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+)
- Lightweight: 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 fight: (11) Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clayton Carpenter
Stay tuned for more potential updates, weigh-in results and more for the UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2025.
