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

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.

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.

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.

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,

The debate over Islam Makhachev's status as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in MMA continues to generate discussion, with prominent voices like Michael

There, the UFC executive largely shut down Islam Makhachev’s tease of a move to 185 pounds. While Dana White has no issue with the lightweight champion moving up to welterweight, a move to middleweight is a bridge too far for the promoter.

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

McGregor has been linked to several fights since a gruesome leg injury halted his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier. Most notably, McGregor was scheduled to finally fight Michael Chandler after the pair coached TUF 31 against each other in the spring of 2023.