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 […]

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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

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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.

Brendan Allen Accuses Nassourdine Imavov Of ‘B*tch Move’ By Rejecting Five Rounds For UFC Fight Night Paris (Exclusive)

UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen is not impressed by Nassourdine Imavov’s alleged decision not to share the cage over 25 minutes next month. Allen will head to enemy territory to throw down with a fellow up-and-comer at 185 pounds in Imavov at the Paris-held UFC Fight Night on September 28. The pair will co-headline the […]

Continue Reading Brendan Allen Accuses Nassourdine Imavov Of ‘B*tch Move’ By Rejecting Five Rounds For UFC Fight Night Paris (Exclusive) at MMA News.

UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen is not impressed by Nassourdine Imavov’s alleged decision not to share the cage over 25 minutes next month.

Allen will head to enemy territory to throw down with a fellow up-and-comer at 185 pounds in Imavov at the Paris-held UFC Fight Night on September 28. The pair will co-headline the event, much to the American’s frustration.

The #7-ranked contender initially publicly rejected the France assignment owing to the fact that the promotion wasn’t looking to have him and Imavov headline. Allen was evidently convinced to compete on the undercard of Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis, but he remains frustrated at one stipulation.

With five-round co-main events becoming more common, Allen says he pushed for that against “The Sniper,” but the Frenchman refused. Having had three of his last four outings scheduled for 25 minutes, the 28-year-old is not pleased about Imavov’s apparent reluctance to prepare for the longer distance…

Allen Tells Imavov: You Want To Fight For The Title? 5 Rounds Is How You Do It

During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Allen looked ahead to his second Octagon appearance of 2024, which comes a few months on from his memorable victory over Chris Curtis in their barnburner at the Apex.

That result added to “All In’s” five-round experience, and Imavov isn’t short on it himself having gone the 25-minute distance with both Sean Strickland and Roman Dolidze, as well as recently entering a fourth frame with Jared Cannonier prior to the TKO stoppage.

Despite that, though, Allen says the three-round stipulation for the Paris co-main event is entirely down to Imavov and his team, a decision he has a firm view on.

“Some people just need all the deck in their favor to try to win. But it’s not gonna be enough. I’m still gonna win,” Allen told MMA News. “I accepted the five rounds; I asked for the five rounds. I’ve heard the explanations but I still don’t agree or understand it. But it’s above my pay grade. I think it’s bullsh*t that 10 and 12 guys are main event over four and seven, where we have title contentions possibly surrounding our fight.

“I think it’s kind of a b*tch move that he (Imavov) doesn’t want to accept five rounds. Even as a co-main, he doesn’t want to accept five rounds,” Allen continued. “You wanna fight for the belt? You wanna stake your claim? Like, that’s how you do it. You go out there and win a five-round fight, even if it doesn’t go five rounds. … I don’t fully understand his reasoning, but I understand their logic. Some people just need all the cards in their favor as much as possible.”

Regardless, Allen will still be looking to deliver a standout performance in the French capital to stake his claim for a long-awaited first shot at title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

Having already won seven straight, perhaps the addition of the #4-ranked contender to his ever-growing résumé is the piece of the puzzle Allen needs to secure his spot opposite the champion next time out.

Continue Reading Brendan Allen Accuses Nassourdine Imavov Of ‘B*tch Move’ By Rejecting Five Rounds For UFC Fight Night Paris (Exclusive) at MMA News.

MMA News Today: Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Reportedly ‘Did TNA Numbers’ On PPV, Jake Paul & Mike Perry Verbally Spar In Pre-Fight Face To Face, & More

Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 17, 2024, we’re taking a look at: Report States That Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal’s Boxing Match Massively Underperformed On PPV On a relatively quiet week for combat sports, former UFC stars Nate Diaz and […]

Continue Reading MMA News Today: Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Reportedly ‘Did TNA Numbers’ On PPV, Jake Paul & Mike Perry Verbally Spar In Pre-Fight Face To Face, & More at MMA News.

Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 17, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

  • Meltzer claims that Diaz vs. Masvidal did ‘horrible on PPV’
  • Paul & Perry trade words before July 20
  • City Kickboxing’s Jousset gets a big home fight in Paris

Report States That Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal’s Boxing Match Massively Underperformed On PPV

On a relatively quiet week for combat sports, former UFC stars Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal met inside a boxing ring.

Many felt that their rematch earlier this month ended up being a better fight than expected, and the live attendance at the Honda Center appeared to be a good turnout.

But a recent report suggests that despite the event being heavily spoken about, fans were not willing to pay the pay-per-view price to watch it live.

Dave Meltzer stated on a recent episode of Observer Radio that the event did not perform well, comparing it to wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action (TNA), which has always had a tough time competing against the WWE before the two companies started working together as of late.

“It did horrible on PPV, it did TNA numbers. I’m not exaggerating. I knew it would not do well, but I was absolutely stunned how poorly it did. Nobody bought the fight. People are sick of seeing MMA fighters do boxing.”

Jake Paul & Mike Perry Come Face To Face Ahead Of July 20

Jake Paul returns to the ring this Saturday as he faces one of his toughest tests to date in BKFC star Mike Perry.

Before they can meet on July 20 in a change of opponent for Paul, who was scheduled to be taking on Mike Tyson on this date, the two men came face to face.

As you can expect from two bold characters, there were some certainly unique moments during their conversation. That included, at one point, both men seemingly doing “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan impressions.

The highlight of the entire video was certainly the following quote from Perry, who has always had an unparalleled way with words…

“Your little baby green punches can’t even f****** reach my brain stem bro. I’m gonna dig through your eyeball and find your memories.”

Paul responded in the same way that pretty much everybody else would when being told that by the “King of Violence.”

“Please don’t do that. Please don’t do that Mikey.”

Kevin Jousset Books Home Fight In Paris Against Former TUF Winner

Rising UFC welterweight and City Kickboxing fighter Kevin Jousset has got his next assignment, and it’s sure to be a bucket list one for him.

The French fighter will finally be getting the opportunity to compete in front of his home fans when he makes the walk on September 28 in Paris.

MMA Junkie’s Nolan King reported that Jousset is set to make his third Octagon appearance against The Ultimate Fighter season 29 winner Bryan Battle.

Having competed in Australia and Las Vegas since signing to the promotion, it’s time for “Air” to get the home fighter treatment following his impressive winning streak.

Read more on the story here.

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