Makhachev submits Moicano in Round 1 to retain UFC lightweight title

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev made his latest title defense look easy.

Makhachev submitted Renato Moicano with a D'Arce choke at the 4:05 mark of the first round in the UFC 311 main event Saturday night at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

"I'm always looking for the finish. ... If my opponent gives me a small chance, I will close the night," Makhachev said in his postfight interview.

Makhachev now holds the record for most lightweight title defenses in UFC history (four), breaking a tie with his coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and three others. Makhachev is also now tied with Kamaru Usman for the second-longest winning streak in UFC history (15), behind only Anderson Silva (16).

Makhachev took Moicano down midway through the first round and controlled him from on top. With just over a minute left, Moicano created space and tried to stand up, but Makhachev grabbed hold of a D'Arce choke and forced the tap in mere seconds.

Moicano stepped in on a day's notice after Makhachev's original opponent, Arman Tsarukyan, pulled out of the UFC 311 main event due to a back injury. Moicano, the No. 10-ranked lightweight, was originally scheduled to face Beneil Dariush on the card.

Moicano reflected on the last-minute opportunity to challenge for the title and ultimately coming up short.

"That was not one day's notice. That was a life's notice," Moicano said. "I'm very sad. I spent my whole life for this moment, and I tapped in the first round. Islam was much better than I today.

"I have so much to say, but (this isn't) the right time. I'm not done. I will - I don't know if I will ever get a chance like that again, but I will try my best."

UFC CEO Dana White said he doesn't plan to give Tsarukyan the next title shot following his withdrawal.

"He's going back to the drawing board," White said of Tsarukyan. "I don't want anybody to ever fight hurt ever. We've been in these positions before. Went down there with a doctor, went down there with Heather from the PI - who is, you can ask any fighter or anybody else, she's the best in the world - and you miss opportunities sometimes. And he did. So we'll see how this plays out for him next year."

Makhachev earned his third consecutive stoppage win and his seventh in eight fights. The 33-year-old, who hasn't lost since his second UFC appearance in 2015, now holds a 27-1 pro record.

Makhachev captured the title with a submission of Charles Oliveira in October 2022 and has since defended it against former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (twice), Dustin Poirier, and now Moicano.

Moicano's four-fight winning streak ended. He was coming off a dominant TKO victory over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC Paris last September in which he emerged as a potential title contender. The 35-year-old Brazilian suffered his first loss since March 2022 and his first stoppage defeat since December 2020.