Arman Tsarukyan missed out on the chance of a lifetime, however is assured he made the appropriate name.
The highest light-weight contender was scheduled to battle champion Islam Makhachev in the principle occasion of UFC 311, which went down at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles this previous Saturday, however plans modified on the final second when Tsarukyan was pressured to withdraw as a result of a again harm. Renato Moicano stepped in for Tsarukyan and went on to lose to Makhachev through first-round submission.
On Monday, Tsarukyan appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show, the place he went into element on when the harm occurred and the decision-making course of that led to he and his crew making the decision to tug out. The fighter was informed there was a difficulty together with his sciatic nerve, despite the fact that there have been no points together with his again forward of battle week.
“I didn’t have something with my decrease again [in training camp], like with my sciatic nerve, I didn’t have something,” Tsarukyan mentioned. “I had from my neck to my again, however it’s a very totally different factor. In fact, each camp we have now one thing, like, I damage my elbow, I damage my knee,’ however it was not that dangerous that you simply couldn’t proceed your coaching camp. Each fighter has a small harm.
“Every thing was good. Wednesday, after coaching, I went to sleep and I begin to really feel my decrease again, and I couldn’t sleep all evening, and I assumed one thing occurred. I took some painkillers, and so they didn’t assist. The following day, I assumed it’s going to be good and after press convention I’m going to begin my weight minimize. Once I began my weight minimize, I used to be doing bike, after which that second my again caught, and I couldn’t transfer. I couldn’t transfer, I simply laid down within the scorching tub, it was loopy ache. I couldn’t do cardio. After which UFC medical doctors got here and began to assist me, do some PT, and so they mentioned, ‘You’re going to be alright within the morning. In case you’re going to really feel the identical, you’ll be able to’t proceed chopping your weight.’ I used to be, like, six kilos left once I went to sleep, and the ache was the identical. 5 a.m. I simply informed my supervisor it’s the identical ache, I couldn’t transfer, my decrease again caught and I can’t proceed.”
When information broke of Tsarukyan’s withdrawal, hypothesis instantly ran rampant as to when the harm really occurred, its severity, and whether or not it was associated to his weight minimize. There was additionally loads of discuss round a viral clip from a vlog posted by UFC character Nina Marie Daniele, which confirmed Tsarukyan doing a little elaborate neck and again workouts.
Tsarukyan was requested concerning the clip and shortly shot down the notion it had something to do together with his again issues.
“No, that factor I’m doing every single day for my warmup,” Tsarukyan mentioned. “If I had an issue throughout coaching camp, how can I do that train? I didn’t really feel something. I used to be good and I used to be prepared and I used to be coaching very onerous through the week, I had good vitality, no downside. It simply occurred once I began to chop weight. It’s as a result of while you’re dehydrated, perhaps due to that it occurred as properly.”
Tsarukyan known as his UFC 311 withdrawal “essentially the most troublesome resolution of my life,” although he doesn’t remorse avoiding a state of affairs the place he may be compromised or trigger himself long-term harm. And despite the fact that UFC CEO Dana White later declared that the promotion is transferring on from the Makhachev-Tsarukyan matchup for now, that’s no subject for Tsarukyan, who tweeted out that he’s on the identical web page as White.
That mentioned, Tsarukyan isn’t positive if White is upset together with his resolution, presumably due to a miscommunication.
“Perhaps a health care provider [told White] ‘He may battle,’ I don’t know,” Tsarukyan mentioned. “However I used to be coaching so onerous, I used to be chopping my weight, I used to be weight-reduction plan eight weeks, simply on my thoughts, if I step within the cage I make some huge cash. I needed to be on this battle greater than all people. Even when I lose, however lose good, I may make good cash, however I couldn’t stroll that evening.”
Optimistically, Tsarukyan want to be again by April, however he has no agency timetable for his return. His best choice is to battle Charles Oliveira, this time in a five-rounder after Tsarukyan beforehand received a slim resolution over Oliveira in a three-round battle at UFC 300 this previous April.
Michael Chandler additionally dropped a couple of feedback on social media angling for a battle with Tsarukyan, which fits Tsarukyan simply high quality.
“I’m down with all people as a result of I do know I can beat all people,” Tsarukyan mentioned. “If they need me to beat Chandler after which once more Oliveira after which battle for the title with Islam, I’m down, as a result of Islam’s not going to return again quickly. He’s going to battle perhaps in six months.”
Assessment. The MMA Fighting crew breaks down all the odds and ends from a memorable UFC 311 card.
No. 1. Khabib Nurmagomedov is assured Islam Makhachev is the best fighter in the world after one other dominant efficiency.
Barf. Merab Dvalishvili’s leg was a friggin’ mess not lengthy earlier than UFC 311 battle week.
Selection. Will Francis Ngannou continue to jump between boxing and MMA?
Escalation. Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira are official for UFC 313, and Ankalev thinks Pereira just signed his “death certificate.”
Nonetheless beefing. Paddy Pimblett and Renato Moicano are at it again.
City Corridor Q&A with GFL’s Darren Owen.
Already again on the content material grind.
Pitbull.
Almighty response.
2Straws on UFC 311.
Is Dvalishvili the BW GOAT?
Iron sharpens iron.
The fight sports activities schedule.
Finest knockouts of the week, a thread.
Hilo con los mejores KOs/TKOs de la semana. High 10
— Barrele la pierna (@Barrelelapierna) January 20, 2025
Future champ.
Relentless.
Details.
The UFC is off to a high quality begin with the appetizer that was UFC Vegas 101 and the well-cooked meal that was UFC 311, the promotion’s first pay-per-view providing of 2025. Other than a couple of hiccups, followers couldn’t have requested for far more from a card that delivered elite performances from two of the very best fighters on the planet, a couple of flashy finishes, and a pair of early Battle of the 12 months contenders in Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill and Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov.
We now have a break from UFC this upcoming weekend, however make certain to take a look at the PFL’s newest providing on Saturday after which prepare for UFC Saudi Arabia up subsequent.
Ballot
How do you grade UFC 311?
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