The mixed martial arts realm, along with its passionate community, was recently shaken up by the news that Islam Makhachev was set to confront Renato Moicano in the Octagon on an extremely short notice. This development was shared by Dana White, the chief executive officer of UFC, via a social media update, detailing alterations in the UFC 311 lineup. Among this attentive audience was Alexander Volkanovski, the erstwhile ruler of the UFC Featherweight division, who hasn’t seen any action since his defeat at the hands of Ilia Topuria the previous February.
Despite fans attempting to discourage his return, Volkanovski was hungering for the thrill of the combat arena once more. Taken by the unforeseen circumstances of UFC 311, he chose to inject a bit of thrill into the narrative. Fanning the flames of controversy, Volkanovski expressed his dissatisfaction and curiosity. ‘Why was I not contacted?’ is the question he posed eloquently, amassing over 36,000 likes on his query-the unignorable evidence of his popularity.
Undeterred by the lack of response, Volkanovski continued his light-hearted campaign. It’s likely he aimed to pull more fans towards the ongoing drama. However, as things stand, UFC 311 gears up for its eventful evening sans the presence of Volkanovski. Moicano, the significant long shot in betting odds, is all set to turn the tables and inject surprise into the much-awaited matchup against Makhachev, considered by many as the top-notch MMA athlete at present.
Moicano, acknowledging his shot at the top, demonstrated a flair for the dramatic on ‘X’, expressing his eagerness and unwavering belief in his ability to dethrone Makhachev. Adding his own twist to the unfolding drama was Tsarukyan. Despite being down and out due to a sudden back injury during his weight check for the championship, he revealed apologetic sentiments towards his fans and the UFC.
Promising to return for a title challenge when fully fit, Tsarukyan conveyed his regret over having to withdraw from UFC 311 due to his unfortunate physical setback. ‘To the UFC and all its ardent followers, it’s with remorse that I confirm the rumors of my withdrawal from UFC 311 due to a back injury to be true’, Tsarukyan expressed.
Taking the regret a notch higher, he went on to describe this as one of the most challenging choices he’s ever had to make in his professional fighting career. ‘I’d like to extend my gratitude toward the UFC for their understanding, and am eager to contest for my maiden UFC Championship in the future. Thank you all for rallying behind me’, he further professed.
With an eventful week having passed for the organization, characterized by high uncertainty and intense preparation, the highly-anticipated fight day swiftly approaches. It won’t be long before the dust settles and the results of these dramatic developments unfold, eventually weaving their way into the intricate history of mixed martial arts.