MMA

Dana White shares Islam Makhachev’s reaction to getting new opponent for UFC 311 main event

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Dana White has had a very busy day before UFC 311.

The UFC CEO announced on Friday that headliner Arman Tsarukyan was forced to withdraw from his scheduled lightweight title fight with Islam Makhachev due to a back injury, and in his place, will be Renato Moicano stepping in on a day’s notice.

Moicano gets a big opportunity, but White said Makhachev was without hesitation when the news was presented to him.

“When we called Islam Makhachev, he said, ‘Brother, I am the champion. I fight anybody, I don’t care,’” White said on the UFC 311 weigh-in show.

White was then asked by Laura Sanko if Moicano was aware of the situation prior to Friday’s weigh-ins, as he was originally slated to face Beneil Dariush on the main card.

“He was aware, and obviously [he couldn’t weigh in at] 156, he needed to be 155, on championship weight,” White said.

White also shared that there were many potential fighters that raised their hands to step in, but in the end, upgrading Moicano to the main event, and a title fight, was the absolute best way to go.

“There were lots of options,” White explained. “The best-case scenario is a guy who is already on the card, who is already in shape, who is already making weight, who’s had a training camp, and when you really look at it — and the press conference yesterday — who better than Moicano to step up and take this opportunity?”

 

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