UFC Brazil: Renato Moicano suggests solution for main fight of possible event in Rio de Janeiro

Moicano at UFC weigh-in. Photo: Reproduction/UFC.

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With the confirmation that the next UFC Brazil event will be a 'Fight Night', meaning without a title fight, fans have begun to wonder: who could headline the main card? Without the guaranteed presence of big stars from the company, the options become more limited. And it is in this scenario that Renato Moicano emerges 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.

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At 36 years old, Renato Moicano knows the UFC's patterns well. According to him, when the organization holds events outside the United States, it usually schedules opponents with compatible styles to favor the home fighters. Therefore, considering the fighters available in the division, Moicano finds it difficult to predict his next opponent, should he fight 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

With few options for opponents, Renato Moicano acknowledges that he could end up facing Rafael Fiziev in a rematch. Aware that the Kyrgyz fighter defeated him, the Brazilian prefers to avoid this fight, but 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 around it. I’m not in a position to choose fights. It’s a difficult position. I can’t choose fights and I’m also old, brother. I have to fight. It’s a difficult fight, it won’t be easy, but if they call me, I’ll go,” concluded Renato Moicano.

Moicano points to Fiziev as the only fighter who was not able to win

R. Fiziev (left) defeated R. Moicano (right) at UFC 256. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Despite having shared the octagon with great champions, including Islam Makhachev , José Aldo , and Rafael Dos Anjos , Moicano always felt capable of facing any fighter. However, he acknowledged that Rafael Fiziev was the only opponent who, after the fight, he felt he might not be able to beat, especially due to the Kyrgyz fighter's superior striking.

“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 a career record of 20 wins and seven losses. In his last fight, the Brazilian was defeated by Beneil Dariush at UFC 317.

UFC is expected to return to Brazil in 2025

Ultimate promoted UFC Rio at Christ the Redeemer (Photo: Instagram/UFC)

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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 UFC 301 in May 2024, when Alexandre Pantoja defended his flyweight title against Steve Erceg at the same venue.

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