The highly anticipated fight between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan has been canceled after Tsarukyan withdrew due to a back injury.

Islam Makhachev’s D’Arce choke is becoming a signature move after it netted him Submission of the Month honors again in January.

Coach Javier Mendez called Poirier Makhachev’s toughest fight to date. Nurmagomedov thinks Makhachev can only grow from a back-and-forth battle such as that, which was a nominee for the 2024 Fight of the Year.

Islam Makhachev’s manager has revealed the ‘UFC plan’ for his star client’s next fight. The lightweight champion was originally booked to defend his belt against Arman Tsarukyan before the Armenian withdrew from his first UFC title fight on Friday after suffering a back injury.

Current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was set to face Arman Tsarukyan ... of the high-level competitors in the lightweight division, including Moicano, Dustin Poirier, Alexander Volkanosvki (twice), Charles Oliveira, Dan Hooker, and more.

Islam Makhachev made short work of Renato Moicano at UFC 311 but it is a victory that will live long in the memory. Moicano, a late replacement for the injured Arman Tsarukyan, was the latest victim to be on the receiving end of a Makhachev mauling,

Manager Ali Abdelaziz recently hinted at Islam Makhachev's future plans. According to Abdelaziz, the UFC's immediate plans for Makhachev don't include Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira or Ilia Topuria - all of whom seemed to be potential opponents for the reigning lightweight champion.

Lopes is the number three-ranked featherweight in the world, but has only made one appearance up the weights in short notice catchweight bout against Dan Ige. Meanwhile Poirier was the last man to challenge Makhachev at UFC 301 last summer, losing by submission in the fifth round.

Dana White’s new pound-for-pound number one pleaded for the chance to prove himself against middleweight king, Dricus du Plessis, who will put his title on the line against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 next month.

Major change to UFC 311 as Arman Tsarukyan injury scuppers Islam Makhachev main event - Renato Moicano steps in on one day’s notice, challenging Makhachev for the lightweight title

Makhachev was set to defend his title in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan, while Moicano was to face Beneil Dariush. However, everything changed at the official morning weigh-ins when Tsarukyan withdrew from his title opportunity due to a back injury.