INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Renato Moicano was scheduled to compete at UFC 311, but wasn’t a headliner fighting for the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev until a drastic shift after the official morning weigh-ins.
Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) and Moicano (20-5-1 MMA, 12-5 UFC) are now just hours away from their impromptu title fight after Makhachev’s original opponent Arman Tsarukyan withdrew due to injury.
It was a tense face-to-face as the confidence in Moicano for his big opportunity was apparent.
“I don’t give a f*ck,” Moicano told Joe Rogan after the faceoff. “I can’t afford to f*cking lose, and that’s true. Doesn’t matter if it’s the champion or not. Tomorrow, I’m winning.”
Makhachev delivered a confident statement of his own after Rogan asked if there will be a difference with the opponent switch.
“No, same,” Makhachev said. “Smash my opponent, that’s it. No matter who is going to be in front of me. Let’s go.”
The new title fight, which serves as Saturday’s main event at Intuit Dome (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+), will see Makhachev attempt to defend his lightweight crown for the fourth time. Moicano, who enters on a four-fight winning streak, gets a huge opportunity on just a few hours’ notice.
Check out the video above to see Makhachev and Moicano face off at UFC 311 ceremonial weigh-ins.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.
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