LOS ANGELES – Arman Tsarukyan is understandably devastated after having to withdraw from his first UFC championship fight.
UFC 311 experienced a sudden and unexpected major change Friday when it was announced during official weigh-ins that Tsarukyan was out of the main event because of a back injury. In his first statement on Instagram, Tsarukyan confirmed his back is injured, although he did not detail the extent or how it came to be.
“I regret to inform everyone that the news is 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 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.”
Tsarukyan had been set to rematch lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who will remain in the headliner against last-minute replacement Renato Moicano at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. Moicano originally was 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 exact a measure of revenge after losing to Makhachev in his UFC debut six years ago.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.
