‘I’m better than him everywhere’: Renato Moicano boosts Tom Nolan after Brian Ortega saga

Renato Moicano reacts after defeating Jalin Turner during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. (Reuters) Renato Moicano was scheduled to fight Brian Ortega at UFC 326 in March. Ortega retired with injuries. A rematch was booked for UFC 331 in September, only for Ortega to withdraw again, this time with a cut above his left eye.Moicano will now take on Tom Nolan in the Meta APEX Main Event in Las Vegas on October 31 (November 1 IST). The Brazilian lightweight has had two opponents to prepare for this year, but his immediate concern is who will actually show up.“When I heard about the fight, I changed my game plan. Brian Ortega obviously plays jiu-jitsu, while Tom Nolan is a striker, so I changed my approach to the fight,” Moicano told TimesofIndia.com.He has little interest in revising the repeal. “There’s nothing I can do about it, you know. All I can do is train, lose weight and fight on Saturday. I’m not thinking about Brian Ortega,” he said.Moicano, 37, won in the second round over Chris Duncan in April after losing his previous two bouts against Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev. Duncan’s win stopped a losing streak. Nolan, 26, has won five consecutive fights, including a unanimous decision over Farès Ziam in June.Moicano is ranked eighth in the UFC lightweight division, Nolan is ranked 12th in the latest rankings. The Australian has never headlined a UFC event before and will be competing over five rounds for the first time.

Tom Nolan in action (Image credit: Special Arrangements)

“I think he’s a very dangerous opponent, but I think I’m better than him everywhere,” Moicano said.Nolan called for a fight after defeating Ziam. Moicano wasn’t interested in reading too much into the label.“I don’t know. I don’t care what they think or what they do. It’s just a fight. I have to go out there and beat him and that’s it,” he said.

Overcrowded lightweight cover image

The division has moved on since Moicano’s last appearance. Justin Gaethje is the champion after defeating Ilia Topuria by fourth-round TKO at UFC Freedom 250 in June. The defeat was the first in Topuria’s professional career.Topuria remains No. 1 in the UFC rankings, with Arman Tsarukyan at No. 2, Charles Oliveira at No. 3, Max Holloway at No. 4 and Paddy Pimblett at No. 5. Benoît Saint Denis and Quillan Salkilld are also ahead of Moican, who needs to keep winning to improve his position.Tsarukyan bolstered his case with a knockout over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 in September. Oliveira defeated Holloway in March, while Pimblett defeated Saint Denis in July. There is no shortage of established names or younger contenders looking for a title shot.Moicano has previously said he would welcome a fight against Topuria. A change in the title picture has complicated that possibility, with Gaethje now holding the belt and Tsarukyan among the frontrunners for another shot.

Renato Moicano punches Benoit Saint Denis in their lightweight bout during UFC Fight Night at The Accor Arena on September 28, 2024 in Paris, France. (UFC photo)

“Someone asked me if I was going to fight Topuria and I said of course. But that’s up to the UFC. I just have to win my fight and we’ll see what happens,” Moicano said.Asked if he needed another big win before a fight against Topuria was realistic, he didn’t try to negotiate his way into the fight.“I’m really focused on that fight now. I think Ilia Topuria could be one, but who knows? I’m not thinking about that right now. I’m just thinking about finishing Tom Nolan and then see what happens next,” he said.A win over Nolan would keep Moicano in the top 10 and give him another result to take into the discussion about his next opponent. A loss would leave him needing to rebuild his position while the top contenders continue to move towards the title.For now, Moicano is not predicting the next phase of his career.When asked how he defines success at this point, he offered a straightforward answer. “I think success for me is going out there and finishing Tom Nolan, getting some money, coming home safe and being ready for the next one,” he said.(Moicano faces Nolan UFC Fight Nightlive on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV)