Moicano makes weight and confirms fight in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
A long-time member of the top-15 in the lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg), Renato Moicano is facing a major dilemma. This Saturday (4), the veteran headlines UFC Vegas 115, but, unlike Chris Duncan , who is riding a four-fight winning streak, he is going through a delicate moment in his career. As if the two consecutive losses weren't enough, the Brazilian has also been questioned by many because of his behavior outside the octagon.
It's no secret that Moicano, with his unique way of communicating, is a hit on YouTube, becoming even more popular. The athlete gained prominence as a commentator and also entertains his channel subscribers for hours. However, from the moment the Brazilian became a social media personality and realized the power of the digital world, things took a turn for the worse, and his performance level dropped. And it didn't stop there.
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The most emblematic episode occurred at UFC Rio, an event held in October. On that occasion, Moicano offered himself to the league to replace the injured Rafael Fiziev against Charles do Bronx , however, internally, he refused the fight. This attitude irritated the former lightweight champion and was not well received by the public. In his defense, Renato explained that he wouldn't be able to perform well and pointed out that his priority is content creation, which would consume the time needed for preparation.
“I’ve been doing six-hour live streams. If I stop working, the algorithm and the numbers will plummet,” the fighter said on his podcast 'Show Me The Money'.
Since Moicano decided to prioritize his channel and started refusing fights, many now classify him more as a YouTuber than a fighter. And it's not just the fans who are worried about the Brazilian. Marcos Parrumpinha, the veteran's coach, asked him to focus entirely on his preparation to get back on top and, jokingly, forbade him from spending too much time on the internet. Gilbert Durinho fears that his friend is now burned out with the UFC. For his part, Duncan himself found his opponent's choice strange.
It's true that, despite two consecutive losses to Islam Makhachev in January 2025 and Beneil Dariush in June, Moicano remains in the lightweight elite, in tenth position. However, as the Brazilian's focus has shifted to growing his YouTube presence, many fighters aiming for a spot in the top 15 have begun to see him as an ideal opponent. Aware that he needs to recover, the veteran admitted to feeling the pressure, but assured that he has prepared adequately and will find his way back to victory. The only certainty is that the duel against the surging Duncan is dramatic and crucial for 'Money's' future in MMA.
Full fight card for UFC Vegas 115
MAIN CARD (21pm Brasília time)
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Renato Moicano vs. Chris Duncan
Strawweight (up to 52,2 kg): Virna Jandiroba x Tabatha Ricci
Light heavyweight (up to 93 kg): Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Brendson Ribeiro
Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Ethyn Ewing vs. Rafael Estevam
Featherweight (up to 65,8 kg): Tommy McMillen vs. Manolo Zecchini
Featherweight (up to 65,8 kg): José Delano vs. Robert Ruchala
PRELIMINARY CARD (18pm Brasília time)
Heavyweight (up to 120,2 kg): Guilherme Pat vs. Thomas Petersen
Flyweight (up to 57 kg): Alessandro Costa vs. Stewart Nicoll
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Lando Vannata x Darrius Flowers
Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Alice Pereira vs. Hailey Cowan
Middleweight (up to 83,9 kg): Azamat Bekoev x Tresean Gore
Flyweight (up to 57 kg): Dione Barbosa x Melissa Gatto
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Kai Kamaka III x Dakota Hope
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