White and Cormier Disagree on UFC 311 Decisions
The aftermath of UFC 311 brought a disagreement between UFC CEO Dana White and commentator Daniel Cormier over whether Arman Tsarukyan should remain next in line for a lightweight title fight with Islam Makhachev.
Tsarukyan withdrew before the title fight
Tsarukyan was scheduled to challenge Makhachev in the UFC 311 main event on January 18, 2025. The UFC announced that he had withdrawn because of medical issues unrelated to weight cutting; Renato Moicano stepped in on short notice. Makhachev submitted Moicano with a D’Arce choke at 4:05 of the first round, retaining his title for the fourth consecutive time. The UFC’s event update and official result record the change and finish.
White and Cormier backed different paths
After the event, White said Tsarukyan would have to work his way back to another title opportunity. Cormier disagreed in his post-fight analysis, arguing that Tsarukyan’s standing and skills still made him the right next challenger. Their debate concerned how the UFC should weigh a late withdrawal against a contender’s prior results—not a disagreement over the outcome of the UFC 311 fights. MMA Fighting reported White’s comments, and Cormier’s position.
