UFC lightweight champion of the world Islam Makhachev will now face Renato Moicano on Saturday at UFC 311 after a dramatic weigh-in day saw a late change of opponent for the pound-for-pound No. 1 in Inglewood, California.
Makhachev was due to face Armenian contender Arman Tsarukyan in the main event at Intuit Dome, but Tsarukyan was forced out of the fight in the early hours of the morning, and, after successfully hitting championship weight at Friday’s weigh-ins, 10th-ranked Moicano was drafted in to face Makhachev for the title.
UFC president Dana White appeared on the UFC 311 Weigh-In Show to break the news as he revealed that Tsarukyan had been ruled out, and Moicano had been promoted up the card for the biggest fight of his career.
“Around 1am last night we had a call from Arman Tsarukyan, and he let us know he was experiencing severe back pain and felt that he was not healthy enough to compete. So, he’s out of the fight,” said White.
“So stepping in to face Islam Makhachev for the title, Renato Moicano. He’s been on a tear since moving up to 155 pounds, and he has the longest active win streak amongst of all the fighters in the top 10 of the lightweight division.
BREAKING NEWS!!!!
Makhachev will now be facing Moicano for the lightweight title. #UFC311 is LIVE TOMORROW on @ESPNPlus PPV! pic.twitter.com/2JZevvpQP2
— danawhite (@danawhite) January 17, 2025
“Six of his last seven, including his last four in a row, with three of them coming by finish. He’s a savage. He wants to step up and right. Every fight he’s in is a war, and when we called Islam Makhachev, he said, ‘Brother, I am the champion. I fight anybody. I don’t care.’
“So the new fight – the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world Islam Makhachev versus Renato Moicano for the lightweight title tomorrow night, at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.”
Moicano, meanwhile, was ecstatic, and ready to take full advantage of his opportunity as he looks to claim the biggest win of his career on just one day’s notice.
“Money Moicano’s coming for the belt!” he said in a social media video.
“Be ready, Islam Makhachev. Tomorrow is Money time!
READY FOR HIS SHOT 😤@MoicanoUFC is ready to fight for the LW title!! #UFC311 pic.twitter.com/P5kYXiaPU0
— UFC (@ufc) January 17, 2025
“Man, I’m so happy that I got this opportunity. I’ve been working for this for a long time, and I knew that could happen. That’s why I was training five rounds, that’s why I was training with a southpaw.
“I’m ready, and tomorrow, I am ready to shock the world. Be ready, because I am! This is Money Moicano, and tomorrow I will be the champ of the world. Let’s f*****g go!”