UFC Title Fight Changes: Khabib’s Perspective on Last-Minute Replacements

Former UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov is no stranger to surprising changes right before a big fight. As coach for Islam Makhachev, he faced a switch in opponents when Arman Tsarukyan withdrew from the UFC 311 title fight due to a back injury. The news came just before weigh-ins, leaving Renato Moicano to step in and grab the opportunity to fight for the lightweight title.

“I found out the night before, around 1 a. m. , ” Nurmagomedov shared on UFC’s social media. He knows that last-minute changes can happen to anyone. Back in 2017, he too had to pull out of a fight at UFC 209 due to weight cut complications. Despite this setback, Nurmagomedov bounced back, won his next fight, and eventually became the champion. Nurmagomedov believes Tsarukyan will recover and come back strong. He also thinks Moicano, with his extensive UFC experience and current winning streak, will make the most of this chance. “He's experienced, and it will be a competitive fight, ” Nurmagomedov said. “We won’t underestimate him. ”

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