Khabib Nurmagomedov commented on Arman Tsarukyan's injury, sustained just two days before his fight with Islam Makhachev. Arman injured his back and had to withdraw from the bout. Brazilian fighter Renato Moicano stepped in and will now fight Islam Makhachev for the championship belt.
“I found out about it last night around 1 a.m. This can happen to anyone. If you remember, in March 2017, I was in a similar situation. I had to undergo surgery. After that, I came back and told the UFC: ‘If it’s my fault, give me the best contender, I’ll defeat him and earn a title shot.’ I wish Arman all the best. He’s a tough fighter, and I’m confident he’ll overcome this situation and come back stronger,” Khabib said.
Nurmagomedov also shared his thoughts on the replacement:
“Now we have a new main event. Moicano is a very experienced fighter on a three-fight winning streak. This will be a competitive bout. Of course, it won’t be as exciting as the fight against Tsarukyan, but we’re not going to underestimate Renato in any way,” he added.