In the high-stakes world of mixed martial arts, few events have caused as much upheaval as Arman Tsarukyan’s unexpected withdrawal from UFC 311. Scheduled to challenge reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, Tsarukyan’s abrupt exit due to a debilitating back injury sent shockwaves through the MMA community. Tsarukyan recounted that after a routine evening training session, he began experiencing severe lower back pain, which escalated overnight.
Despite attempting to proceed with his weight cut, the pain intensified to the point where he couldn’t move, leading to his difficult decision to withdraw. The sudden change was a significant blow to Tsarukyan, who had been on a winning streak and was poised for his first title shot. Acknowledging the setback, Tsarukyan expressed his agreement with White’s decision that he would need to fight his way back to title contention once recovered. As he focuses on recovery, the lightweight landscape continues to evolve, with fighters like Charles Oliveira, eyeing their paths to a title shot.
Now former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has also expressed his interest fighting the champion. While there has been no official announcement about his next fight, Eduard Vartanyan feels he might just get the nod ahead of Tsarukyan. The 33-year-old during a recent conversation with Ushatayka, made it clear that the UFC is looking to teach a lesson to the 28-year-old after his UFC 311 pull out. He said, “I am also not surprised if Topuria will fight for the belt or the winner of the pair of Gaethje and Fiziev. So in this case the UFC has a task like to teach Arman a lesson.”
Tsarukyan’s journey serves as a poignant reminder of the physical toll in professional fighting and the resilience required to overcome unforeseen challenges. As fans await his return, the narrative of his career adds a chapter marked by adversity, setting the stage for a compelling comeback. However, the big question is what does the UFC CEO Dana White think about the whole situation. Well, the 55-year-old made it clear that Tsarukyan will have to work his way back to the top again.
Dana White hopes to see Arman Tsarukyan in action soon after UFC 311 pullout
Missing out on a championship fight always comes with consequences, and this time, it’s Arman Tsarukyan who finds himself paying the price. In the fight game, an injured competitor isn’t just at a disadvantage; they’re a risk for the promotion itself. More so the amount of competition there is in the lightweight division. One just cannot slack just for a little bit as someone else will take over their place. That’s exactly why Dana White wasted no time in stating that Tsarukyan wouldn’t get an immediate title shot upon his return. However, he wants to see him work his way back to the top again.
During the UFC 311 post-fight conference the UFC head honcho said, “He’s going back to the drawing board. I don’t want anybody to fight hurt, ever. We’ve been in these positions before, went down there with the doctor… You miss opportunities sometimes, and he did. We’ll see how this plays out for him next year.” The topic resurfaced once again during the Power Slap 11 press conference when a reporter brought up a key point—Arman Tsarukyan still holds the #1 spot in the lightweight rankings. Realistically, no other contender has a stronger claim to a title shot than he does.
However, despite his position at the top, Dana White’s stance remained clear—Tsarukyan was out of the title picture, at least for now. Who do you think Arman Tsarukyan will be facing next in his career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post “UFC Has a Task…to Teach Arman a Lesson” – Arman Tsarukyan’s Team Confirms His Biggest Fear After UFC 311 Pullout appeared first on EssentiallySports.