Benoit Saint-Denis Hopes to Land Rematch with Dustin Poirier After UFC Paris Headliner

Benoit Saint-Denis Hopes to Land Rematch with Dustin Poirier After UFC Paris HeadlinerBenoit Saint-Denis wants another crack at Dustin Poirier. After coming up short against ‘The Diamond’ in March, Saint-Denis will…

Benoit Saint-Denis Hopes to Land Rematch with Dustin Poirier After UFC Paris Headliner

Benoit Saint-Denis wants another crack at Dustin Poirier.

After coming up short against ‘The Diamond’ in March, Saint-Denis will look to bounce back when he headlines Saturday’s UFC card in The City of Light. Meeting him inside the Octagon will be streaking Brazilian standout Renato Moicano in a battle that could launch the winner into the lightweight division’s coveted top 10.

Benoit Saint-Denis

Speaking with the promotion ahead of his highly anticipated return at UFC Paris, the ‘God of War’ hopes that a decisive win against Moicano this weekend will earn him an opportunity to run it back with Poirier at some point.

“I fought a warrior and the only way to get back at him is to get the belt from Makhachev. The only thing Poirier doesn’t have is the undisputed UFC belt. Right now, I’m concentrating on Moicano, Moicano is my goal, getting that victory,” Saint-Denis told the promotion.“I’m very happy to be part of Dustin’s journey as a fighter because he is a great fighter, but I want it back. I will work for it and I have a lot of work to do” (h/t BJPenn.com).

After an exceptional opening round, Saint-Denis suffered a brutal knockout loss against Poirier in the second round of their UFC 299 clash.

Saint-Denis

Benoit Saint-Denis knows a win over ‘Money’ would be huge

With Poirier already having one foot outside the Octagon, it’s hard to imagine Saint-Denis ever booking a sequel scrap with ‘The Diamond.’ Regardless, ‘God of War’ only has one thing on his mind right now, and that’s getting his hand raised against another one of the lightweight division’s elite.

“I mean it’s huge, he’s only been losing to guys like Aldo, Ortega, Fiziev, top-five guys, elite guys, former champions stuff like that. Everything can go very fast with the UFC. it’s the way you fight, the way you engage, the way you promote fighting, and the UFC and mixed martial arts will give you the opportunity to rise and I’m here to do that,” Saint-Denis added.

Saint-Denis heads to Accor Arena on Saturday with an overall record of 13-2. Before his loss to Poirier, he was riding a five-fight win streak.

Saint-Denis

Renato Moicano Ready to Make Some Noise with a Win over the ‘God of War’ at UFC Paris

Renato Moicano Ready to Make Some Noise with a Win over the 'God of War' at UFC ParisRenato Moicano plans on making some noise in The City of Light. This Saturday, September 28, ‘Money’ is back…

Renato Moicano Ready to Make Some Noise with a Win over the 'God of War' at UFC Paris

Renato Moicano plans on making some noise in The City of Light.

This Saturday, September 28, ‘Money’ is back in action as he headlines the UFC’s return to Paris for a high-stakes lightweight scrap with Benoit Saint-Denis.

Renato Moicano

Emanating from Accor Arena, Moicano will look to add another big win to his resume and take one step closer toward a spot in the lightweight top 10. Having won five of his last six, including a pair of impressive showings against Drew Dober and Jalin Turner, the Brazilian fan favorite is confident that a decisive win over the ‘God of War’ will help him to maintain his upward trajectory.

“If I beat Benoit Saint-Denis, I am in a good position,” Moicano told MMA Junkie. “I get these main events. I get the popularity of the audience. And if he beats me, it’s going to be good for him, too, because I am a veteran. UFC always benefits from whatever, so I don’t really care. I’m focused on myself, my training camp, and on the fight week and to deliver the best performance.”

Renato Moicano eyes potential clashes with paddy pimblett or dan hooker

If Moicano sees his hand raised in enemy territory this weekend, he already has a couple of big names in mind for his next opponent. Namely, Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker.

While Hooker may be the more beneficial fight considering ‘The Hangman’ just re-entered the lightweight top five with a big win over Mateusz Gamrot, ‘Money’ sees Pimblett as the more challenging option.

Dan Hooker def. Matuesz Gamrot UFC 305 634 2

“(Pimblett is a) harder (fight) than Dan Hooker, brother,” Moicano said. “I think so. His last fight, he did great against Bobby Green. What can I say? He did good. Bobby Green is a tough fighter. Bobby Green is very hard to finish. Even though Bobby Green is more of a boxer, he has a very good defensive grappling. The transition was good. The transition for the guillotine to the triangle then finishing him, it was a great performance.

“(Hooker is) above me in the rankings, and I say to you I like easy fights. Who knows.”

Renato Moicano

Renato Moicano ‘Glad’ He Didn’t Train with Dustin Poirier Ahead of Saint-Denis Fight

Renato Moicano 'Glad' He Didn't Train with Dustin Poirier Ahead of Saint-Denis FightRenato Moicano did not work with teammate Dustin Poirier ahead of his clash with Benoit Saint-Denis on Saturday. Coming…

Renato Moicano 'Glad' He Didn't Train with Dustin Poirier Ahead of Saint-Denis Fight

Renato Moicano did not work with teammate Dustin Poirier ahead of his clash with Benoit Saint-Denis on Saturday.

Coming off a couple of big wins over Drew Dober and Jalin Turner, ‘Money’ will look to land his fourth-straight win inside the Octagon when he meets Saint-Denis in The City of Light.

Renato Moicano

Training at the prestigious American Top Team gym in Coconut Creek, Florida, Moicano recently made an appearance on the Show Me The Money podcast to discuss his preparations for fight night and who he worked with during his most recent camp.

“I trained a lot with Thiago Moises, and he told me that the guy is very strong, especially because he fought Benoit and then we trained together,” Moicano said. “We are both lightweights, of course, so he was telling me to be ready; he’s very strong. I’m not underestimating him; I know he’s tough, I know he’s strong. Dustin Poirier also gave me some tips, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. I have to go over there and do my job, and my job is to beat him” (h/t MMA News).

Renato Moicano opted to let Poirier Rest after his rough go against Islam makhachev

Surprisingly, Moicano didn’t squeeze in more work with Poirier.

In March, ‘The Diamond’ scored a spectacular second-round KO against Saint-Denis at UFC 299, making him the perfect brain to pick for anyone staring down the barrel of a bout with the ‘God of War.’ But after a brutal training camp and an even more brutal five-round scrap with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev over the summer, Moicano thought it was best to let the former interim titleholder rest.

“I know he had a very hard training camp against Islam [Makhachev] and Benoit, and I didn’t want to bother him. Even though we talked in Las Vegas at the International Fight Week, and he was more than ready to come down and train with me to help me for the fight, he was on vacation or something. I said, ‘Hey, I’m not gonna message you; I’m not gonna be selfish and try to make him come to ATT just to train with me’… I’m glad that I didn’t have to train with Dustin Poirier because he would beat my a**.”

Renato Moicano

With Moicano sitting as the No. 11 ranked lightweight contender and Saint-Denis at No. 12, a win for either fighter could give them the push they need to finally break into the division’s top 10.

Renato Moicano

Renato Moicano Feels UFC Called ‘Wrong Guy’ To Fight Benoit Saint Denis

In the main event of UFC Paris this weekend, Brazil’s Renato Moicano is hoping to enter enemy territory and come away with the win. His bout with fellow top 15 lightweight Benoît Saint Denis is sure to be an exciting clash of styles at the Accor Arena. It’s also a big opportunity for Saint Denis, who […]

Continue Reading Renato Moicano Feels UFC Called ‘Wrong Guy’ To Fight Benoit Saint Denis at MMA News.

In the main event of UFC Paris this weekend, Brazil’s Renato Moicano is hoping to enter enemy territory and come away with the win.

His bout with fellow top 15 lightweight Benoît Saint Denis is sure to be an exciting clash of styles at the Accor Arena.

It’s also a big opportunity for Saint Denis, who will have the chance to headline a UFC card in his home country for the first time.

In previous years, this honor has gone to Ciryl Gane but now it is time for the “God of War” to step up and bounce back from his loss to Dustin Poirier from earlier this year.

Renato Moicano Says The UFC Chose The Wrong Opponent For Potential Star Benoît Saint Denis

As a teammate of Poirier’s at American Top Team, Moicano was critical of the match-up between “The Diamond” and Saint Denis at UFC 299 in March.

He believed that the promotion was trying to build up the Frenchman by giving him an opportunity that at that stage in his career, he didn’t necessarily deserve.

Now that he is set to face Saint Denis for himself over five rounds on September 28, “Money” Moicano wants to ruin the promotion’s plans.

He told MMA Fighting in a recent interview that he understands why the promotion are big fans of his opponent but if they want to make him into a star, they picked the wrong opponent.

“100% they trying to push Benoît Saint Denis and I’m not even mad, that is just business. I know Europe is a huge market, they don’t have many European fighters doing very well and Benoît Saint Denis is a dangerous fighter. He’s an aggressive fighter and UFC likes him, he’s young, you know? He’s young, European, good market, he can make good money for the UFC but guess what? UFC called the wrong guy because I’m going over there and I’m beating him.”

Read also: Jon Jones’ Coach On Retirement Rumors: MMA Doesn’t Treat Aging Fighters Kindly

Continue Reading Renato Moicano Feels UFC Called ‘Wrong Guy’ To Fight Benoit Saint Denis at MMA News.

Daniel Cormier Plans To End Habit Of Skipping UFC Fight Nights When Home For Moicano vs. Saint Denis 

Count former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier among those incredibly excited for this weekend’s main event in Paris. For the third straight year, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is staging an event in the French capital in September. While the first two following the 2020 legalization of the sport in the European nation saw Ciryl […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Plans To End Habit Of Skipping UFC Fight Nights When Home For Moicano vs. Saint Denis  at MMA News.

Count former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier among those incredibly excited for this weekend’s main event in Paris.

For the third straight year, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is staging an event in the French capital in September. While the first two following the 2020 legalization of the sport in the European nation saw Ciryl Gane as the main attraction, Saturday’s card will be topped by a different French standout.

Headlining inside the Accor Arena on September 29 is rising lightweight Benoît Saint Denis. “God of War” is returning to the cage after having his surge up the ladder stalled by top-five contender Dustin Poirier in Miami this past March.

While Saint Denis started strong, the effects of a pre-fight staph infection appeared to hinder his gas tank and result in a knocking triumph for “The Diamond.”

To get back to the kind of violent success he experienced before running into Poirier, the Frenchman must get past Renato Moicano. The #11-ranked contender has gotten the better of Drew Dober and Jalin Turner since returning from an injury layoff this year.

The clash looks set to be an enthralling one, going down amid the usual electric atmosphere seen at MMA events in Paris. And in terms of the main event matchup, one former fighter-turned-color commentator doesn’t think there’s been much better for a UFC Fight Night in a while…

Cormier Excited To Watch Moicano vs. Saint Denis At Often Skipped UFC Fight Night

During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier looked ahead to the upcoming UFC Fight Night card in France.

“DC” gave props to both men for their skillsets and recent outings inside the Octagon, suggesting they’re likely to come together to put on an entertaining affair in Saturday’s main event.

And despite admitting that he often chooses against watching the UFC Fight Night cards he isn’t commentating on, Cormier insisted he would not miss this one.

“(Moicano’s) got a tough one against Benoît Saint Denis, who also fought well against Dustin,” Cormier said. “I think this is going to be a fantastic fight, and I do believe this is one of the better main events for a Fight Night that we’ve had in a really long time.

“I’m watching it. Honestly, a lot of Saturdays when I’m at home, I choose other things to do. I go watch football, I go play — I do something,” Cormier continued. “Saturday night, I’m tapping into this one because I’ve got to watch Renato Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis fight.”

With all eyes on their crucial lightweight showdown, Moicano and Saint Denis will look to prove Cormier right unleashing fireworks when they share the cage inside the Accor Arena in a few days’ time.

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Plans To End Habit Of Skipping UFC Fight Nights When Home For Moicano vs. Saint Denis  at MMA News.

Renato Moicano ‘Glad’ He Hasn’t Trained With Teammate Dustin Poirier For Benoît Saint Denis Fight

Renato Moicano recently explained why he chose not to train with his teammate Dustin Poirier ahead of his upcoming bout against Benoît Saint Denis. “Money” is stepping into enemy territory as he gears up to face Saint Denis in a crucial lightweight clash, headlining UFC Fight Night Paris this weekend at the Accor Arena in […]

Continue Reading Renato Moicano ‘Glad’ He Hasn’t Trained With Teammate Dustin Poirier For Benoît Saint Denis Fight at MMA News.

Renato Moicano recently explained why he chose not to train with his teammate Dustin Poirier ahead of his upcoming bout against Benoît Saint Denis.

“Money” is stepping into enemy territory as he gears up to face Saint Denis in a crucial lightweight clash, headlining UFC Fight Night Paris this weekend at the Accor Arena in France.

Few know that Moicano hones his skills at the prestigious American Top Team (ATT), working under the guidance of Mike Brown, ‘Parrumpa’ and more capable coaches. His training partners include the highly regarded lightweights Poirier and Thiago Moises, both of whom have faced “God of War” in the octagon before.

The 35-year-old Brazilian could have trained alongside “The Diamond”, who knocked out Saint Denis at UFC 299 this past March, but Moicano somehow did not get that chance…

Moicano Reveals He Didn’t Want To Disrupt Poirier’s Time Off While Preparing For Saint Denis

During a recent episode of his Show Me The Money podcast, Moicano discussed his preparation and training camp for the upcoming clash with Saint Denis. “Money” revealed that he spent considerable time training with Moises, gaining valuable insights that he plans to apply in this fight.

“I trained a lot with Thiago Moises, and he told me that the guy is very strong, especially because he fought Benoit and then we trained together,” Moicano said. “We are both lightweights, of course, so he was telling me to be ready; he’s very strong. I’m not underestimating him; I know he’s tough, I know he’s strong. Dustin Poirier also gave me some tips, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. I have to go over there and do my job, and my job is to beat him.”

Moicano further shared that he wasn’t able to train with Poirier for this fight, as the former UFC interim champion was coming off his own grueling bouts, and Moicano didn’t want to interrupt his time off. “Money” mentioned that he caught up with “The Diamond” during International Fight Week in June, where they exchanged strategies for dealing with Saint Denis.

“I know he had a very hard training camp against Islam [Makhachev] and Benoit, and I didn’t want to bother him. Even though we talked in Las Vegas at the International Fight Week, and he was more than ready to come down and train with me to help me for the fight, he was on vacation or something. I said, ‘Hey, I’m not gonna message you; I’m not gonna be selfish and try to make him come to ATT just to train with me’… I’m glad that I didn’t have to train with Dustin Poirier because he would beat my a**.”

Moicano is currently riding a three-fight win streak, most recently securing a second-round TKO victory over Jalin Turner at UFC 300 this past April. Meanwhile, “God of War” saw his five-fight winning momentum come to an end at the hands of Poirier in his last appearance in the Octagon, and he will be eager to return to his victorious form.

Continue Reading Renato Moicano ‘Glad’ He Hasn’t Trained With Teammate Dustin Poirier For Benoît Saint Denis Fight at MMA News.