Challenger Arman Tsarukyan is out of the lightweight title fight against champion Islam Makhachev, set for UFC 311 on Saturday, due to back pain.
Dana White, the CEO of UFC, confirmed Friday that Renato Moicano will step in for Tsarukyan in the main event in Inglewood, Calif.
The fight will be five rounds.
“He informed us that he was experiencing significant back pain,” White said of Tsarukyan. “Due to the injury, he feels that he is not healthy enough to compete.”
Moicano, a 35-year-old Brazilian, has a 20-5-1 career record. He has won six of his past seven fights, including four in a row. He has never faced Makhachev at the lightweight class.
White said Moicano is ready for the fight. So is Makhachev.
“When we spoke to him this morning, I can tell you he (Moicano) wants this fight,” White said. “And when I called Islam, Islam said, “Brother, I am the champion. I don’t care who it is. I will fight anyone.”
Makhachev, a 33-year-old Russian southpaw, has a 26-1-0 record. He last fought on June 1, when he defended his title against Dustin Poirier by submission at UFC 302 in Newark, N.J.
–Field Level Media
