is back! Unfortunately, it won’t be inside the Octagon.
In January, ‘Ahalkalakets’ was scheduled to challenge reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in his first-ever pay-per-view headliner. However, Tsarukyan bowed out of the bout a mere 36 hours before the fight, feigning a back injury. Instead, Renato Moicano was promoted from main card to the main main, challenging the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ on super-short notice.
As for Tsarukyan, he was essentially relegated to the back of the line, with Dana White revealing that the Armenian would have to go “back to the drawing board” if he hopes to earn another title opportunity.