Arman Tsarukyan Misses Title Shot

In a significant development, UFC CEO Dana White has announced that Arman Tsarukyan will not be receiving an immediate lightweight title shot, following the defense of Islam Makhachev's title at UFC 311. Tsarukyan was initially set to face Makhachev but was forced to withdraw due to a back injury, leading to a change in plans for the title bout.

The decision to deny Tsarukyan an immediate title shot comes as no surprise, given the precedent set by Michael "The Do Bronx" Chandler, who also missed a title opportunity due to injury and had to fight his way back to contention. Makhachev, who has now tied the record for most title defenses in lightweight history with four, is expected to face Charles Oliveira in his next title defense. Tsarukyan's withdrawal from UFC 311 was a significant blow, given his impressive recent form, with nine wins in his last 10 fights, including victories over Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush.

The changes to the UFC 311 card also saw a new heavyweight bout announced, pitting Jailton Almeida against Serghei Spivac. Meanwhile, Israel Adesanya has been singing the praises of Makhachev, crediting his natural striking skills as a key factor in his superiority over Khabib Nurmagomedov. Adesanya notes that Makhachev's timing and ability to spot openings make him a formidable opponent, and his striking has improved significantly since becoming lightweight champion, as evidenced by his recent victories over Dustin Poirier and Alexander Volkanovski.

As the lightweight division continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Tsarukyan responds to the setback and whether he can fight his way back to title contention. With Makhachev's next title defense on the horizon, the division is set for an exciting period, with several top contenders vying for a shot at the championship.