UFC 311 has lost one of its headliners.
During Friday’s official weigh-ins, UFC CEO Dana White revealed on Instagram revealed that Tsarukyan was pulled from his lightweight championship rematch with Islam Makhachev on Saturday’s pay-per-view at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., due to a back injury.
Tsarukyan’s hope to avenge his first UFC debut loss to Makhachev will have to wait, as Makhachev won a decision in their initial meeting in 2019. Since then, Tsarukyan has risen up the ranks of the lightweight division, earning his first championship opportunity following a decision win over former titleholder Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 this past April.
Makhachev now faces Renato Moicano in the brand new main event. Moicano was slated to face Beneil Dariush in a main card lightweight matchup on the card, but with Tsarukyan’s injury, “Money” gets his first opportunity to fight for UFC gold on Saturday.