"Daddy can't buy you a backbone" - Dan Hooker slams Arman Tsarukyan for pulling out of UFC 311 but Beneil Dariush says it was the right thing to do

Dan Hooker appears to have disapproved of Arman Tsarukyan's withdrawal from his UFC lightweight title showdown against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311. In sharp contrast, Beneil Dariush made a case for why Tsarukyan was likely right.

Dagestan's Makhachev outpointed the Georgia-born Armenian Tsarukyan in 2019. The lightweight kingpin was booked to defend his title in a rematch against Tsarukyan at UFC 311 (Jan. 18, 2025).

Nevertheless, with around one day left for fight night, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Tsarukyan cited a back injury and withdrew. White asserted that Renato Moicano, who was to fight Beneil Dariush at UFC 311, agreed to fight Makhachev for the lightweight belt. Ultimately, Makhachev defeated Moicano via first-round submission.

During the post-fight press conference, Dana White suggested that Arman Tsarukyan wouldn't be rebooked to face Islam Makhachev next and would have to work his way back to the title.

Some fans questioned the veracity of Tsarukyan's injury and speculated whether a botched weight cut caused his pullout. Regardless, his coach, Marcos 'Parrumpa' DaMatta, indicated that Tsarukyan hurt his back during his camp's final sparring session before fight week, which worsened during the fight-week weight cut.

Speaking to Submission Radio, Dan Hooker was recently asked about Tsarukyan's last-minute pullout. 'The Hangman' opined that it's the nature of the sport, saying:

"How you get injured on your day off? I got no idea ... I thought it was pretty, pretty strange, bro, to get such a severe injury that you need to pull out when you're cutting weight, you know."

Dan Hooker, who fights Justin Gaethje at UFC 313 (March 8, 2025), also referenced Arman Tsarukyan's reportedly wealthy background. Alluding to his father Nairi Tsarukyan and his wealth, Hooker said:

"It must be a pretty severe injury. But, like, your world title is your absolutely everything. I don't know how you would pass up on that opportunity. Yeah, like, I obviously saw Dana White just say that he ain't getting the title shot next and he's going to have to work his way back up to the belt, you know. Daddy can't buy you a backbone, can he?"

Check out Dan Hooker's comments below (0:45):

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Beneil Dariush issues contrasting opinion about Arman Tsarukyan's UFC 311 withdrawal

Beneil Dariush was taken off UFC 311 after Renato Moicano was booked against Islam Makhachev. Subsequently speaking to Submission Radio, Dariush, who was knocked out by Arman Tsarukyan in December 2023, highlighted that he was surprised to see Tsarukyan withdraw that close to his high-profile title showdown.

Dariush explained that he won't criticize Tsarukyan for pulling out because the latter probably wouldn't have gotten another shot against Makhachev if he'd lost the rematch.

Dariush opined that by withdrawing, earning another title shot, and facing Makhachev when he's fit, Arman Tsarukyan would have another opportunity to capture the title. Implying that he himself might not have made such a decision, Dariush said:

"So I think he made the right decision. If his body can't, he can't perform, I think he made the right decision. So I've been in his shoes, and I've taken the other route. Sometimes it's worked out for me, and sometimes it hasn't. So I think he made a mature decision."

Watch Beneil Dariush's assessment below (6:45):