Moicano at UFC weigh-in. Photo: Reproduction/UFC.
With confirmation that the possible next edition UFC Brazil will be a 'Fight Night', that is, without a title fight, fans began to wonder: who could star in the main card? Without the guaranteed presence of the company's big stars, the options are more limited. And it is in this scenario that Renato Moicano comes up with a solution.
In an interview with the 'Sexto Round' podcast, the Brazilian lightweight expressed skepticism about the quality of the card and suggested that a fight between him and Michal Chandler is the only alternative for the event.
“It's going to be a very 'meowed' Fight Night, my brother. So, Moicano against Chandler is the best that can be done.”, said Moicano.
See too
At 36, Renato Moicano He is well aware of the UFC's standards. According to him, when the organization holds events outside the United States, it usually selects opponents with compatible styles to favor the local fighters. Therefore, added to the fighters available in the division, Moicano finds it difficult to predict his next opponent, if he fights in Brazil.
“If I fight in Brazil, they won’t put me in a tough fight, because they want the home guy to win and that’s not always possible. But it’s difficult: from the moment you become famous, they want to demand more. So, I have no idea who will be next,” continued the fighter from Brasília.
Renato Moicano admits he could face Fiziev again, even if he didn't want to
Without many options for opponents, Renato Moicano acknowledges that he may end up receiving Raphael Fiziev in a rematch. Aware that the Kyrgyzstani has beaten him, the Brazilian prefers to avoid this fight, but he makes it clear that if necessary, he will accept the challenge.
“I’m out, my brother (fighting Fiziev), forget everything… No, if they call me, I’ll go. There’s no way. I’m not in a position to choose a fight. It’s a difficult position. I can’t choose a fight and I’m old too, brother. I have to fight. It’s a difficult fight, it won’t be easy, but if they call me, I’ll go.”, he concluded. Renato Moicano.
Moicano points to Fiziev as the only fighter who was not able to win
R. Fiziev (left) defeated R. Moicano (right) in the UFC 256. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Despite having shared the octagon with great champions, including, Islam makhachev, José Aldo e Rafael Dos Anjos, Moicano always felt capable of facing any fighter. However, he recognized that Raphael Fiziev he was the only opponent who, after the fight, felt that he might not be able to win, especially due to the Kyrgyz fighter's superiority in the exchange.
“The only guy I thought I couldn’t beat after the fight was Fiziev. I thought he was really good. I had that feeling during the fight: he went head-on, I tried to take him down, and when I saw the punch I thought: ‘What am I doing here, man?’… The fight with Fiziev was the only one in which I hit him and I felt that his striking was much better than mine. But I don’t think I would lose to him again,” said the fighter from Brasília in an interview with Sexto Round.
At 36 years old, Moicano has accumulated 20 wins and seven losses in his career. In his last appearance, the Brazilian was defeated by Beneil Dariush No. UFC 317.
UFC is expected to return to Brazil in 2025
Ultimate promoted UFC Rio at Christ the Redeemer (Photo: Instagram/UFC)
The UFC is currently negotiating an event in Brazil for October, scheduled for the 11th and planned to be located at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro. The details have not yet been finalized, but the card is expected to be a 'Fight Night', a non-pay-per-view (PPV) event. The information was released by 'MMA Fighting'.
The confirmation would mark the organization's return to the country after 17 months, since the UFC 301 in May 2024, when Alexandre pantoja defended the flyweight belt against Steve Erceg at the same place.
You need login To comment.