Arman Tsarukyan Withdraws from UFC 311 Due to Back Injury

Arman Tsarukyan was forced to withdraw from his highly anticipated UFC 311 title fight against Islam Makhachev due to a sudden back injury. The injury occurred just before his weight cut, with Tsarukyan experiencing severe pain after a night of training, leading to difficulties in movement. Renato Moicano stepped in as a last-minute replacement but lost to Makhachev via submission. The incident has reignited discussions about the dangers of extreme weight cutting in MMA, with figures like UFC CEO Dana White and former champion Josh Barnett weighing in on the potential link between weight management practices and injuries. Tsarukyan, while dismissing rumors about the cause of his injury being linked to a training video, emphasized he was in good shape leading up to the fight. The situation underscores ongoing concerns regarding fighter safety and the pressures of making weight in the sport.