Morning Report: Daniel Cormier disagrees with Dana White: ‘It still needs to be Arman Tsarukyan [next]’

Arman Tsarukyan missed out on his chance at becoming lightweight champion after a back injury forced him out of UFC 311 at the last minute but it may cost him even more in the long run.

After watching Islam Makhachev make quick work of Renato Moicano in the new main event, UFC CEO Dana White said that it’s “back to the drawing board” for Tsarukyan because he’ll need to fight someone else to earn another title shot after wasn’t able to compete this past Saturday. While Tsarukyan actually agreed with White’s assessment before calling for a rematch against Charles Oliveira, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier doesn’t like that course of action.

“I believe it still needs to be Tsarukyan,” Cormier said in his UFC 311 post-fight reaction. “Because I believe Tsarukyan, even though it’s a rematch and even though we know Charles [Oliveira] is supposed to be next, I still feel like Tsarukyan’s size, his abilities, his skill set, could present the biggest problems for Islam Makhachev.”

While Tsarukyan running it back with Oliveira after they went to a split decision in their first encounter at UFC 300 would solidify a new No. 1 contender, Cormier is quick to point out that Makhachev is quickly running out of viable challengers.

Makhachev ran roughshod over Oliveira in a previous fight and based on the UFC’s rankings, the next fighter available outside of Tsarukyan who hasn’t faced the champion, isn’t already booked or coming off a loss is Paddy Pimblett all the way down at No. 13.

“Look at what does to the rest [of the contenders],” Cormier said about Makhachev. “He has submitted or finished so many of the best lightweights in the world.

“Think about this — he finished Oliveira to become the champ. He finished [Alexander] Volkanovski in the rematch. He finished Dustin Poirier in his last title defense and now he finished Renato Moicano.”

It remains to be seen if the UFC changes course with Tsarukyan available and Makhachev currently without any viable challengers.

Regardless of what happens next, Cormier couldn’t praise Makhachev enough for his performance at UFC 311 after he faced an unenviable position by taking on a new opponent on just 24 hours’ notice and still delivering a first-round finish.

“I dealt with this before with the Anderson Silva situation [at UFC 200],” Cormier said after he was supposed to fight Jon Jones on the card. “I am telling you it is the most difficult thing that you can ever imagine doing.

“Once again Islam Makhachev proves to be the best lightweight in the world, submitting Renato Moicano in the very first round with a D’arce choke. I run out of ways to describe who Islam Makhachev is. This guy is a champion in every sense of the word. Not many guys would have accepted a fight for their belt on 24 hours’ notice against a guy that was on a four-fight win streak that you did not train for. He’s the best and he’s proving that time and time again.”

Champ-Champ. Islam Makhachev open to middleweight title fight with Dricus du Plessis, says Alex Pereira is ‘too much’

Injured. Merab Dvalishvili shrugs off Umar Nurmagomedov injury talk: ‘I broke my back in training camp’

Getting paid. UFC 311 salaries: Renato Moicano earns more than Islam Makhachev for short-notice main event

Pound-for-pound. Dana White concedes Islam Makhachev has finally surpassed Jon Jones as No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter

Sadness. Renato Moicano brokenhearted after loss at UFC 311: ‘Spent my whole life for this moment and I tapped in the first round.’

UFC 311 post-fight show.

Mighty Mouse knows this feeling.

The boss speaks.

Darren Till reacts.

Matt Serra and GSP share stories.

On To The Next One.

Go to sleep?

Georgian pride.

Jiri keeping a watchful eye.

No excuses.

Still money.

The best in the world.

A new challenge?

Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev, UFC 312, March 8, Las Vegas

Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Hooker, UFC 312, March 8, Las Vegas

Daniel Cormier has a valid argument when it comes to challenges left for Islam Makhachev at lightweight but Dana White made the right call here. It’s unfortunate that Tsarukyan suffered an injury just one day before he was supposed to fight for the title but the best ability is availability. He blew that chance by not being able to compete at UFC 311 and now he’s got to not only earn that position as the No. 1 contender again but he has to prove to the UFC that’s he’s reliable enough to depend on next time around.

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