Renato Moicano: 'It's very tough' for Michael Chandler to beat anyone in top 15
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Renato Moicano Responds to Paddy Pimblett's Post-UFC 314 Comments
UFC lightweight Renato Moicano talks to MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn about Paddy Pimblett's win at UFC 314, his post-fight comments, what's next and more.
MMA Junkie
Renato Moicano thinks it will be tough for fellow UFC lightweight Michael Chandler to get a win over a top 15 opponent.
Moicano (20-6-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) wants to make it clear that he has no ill will toward Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC), but as a fighter who typically breaks down fights for his "Show Me the Money" podcast, he simply doesn't see "Iron" as an upper-echelon fighter. "Money" Moicano acknowledges some positive aspects to Chandler's game, but at this point in his career, it will be tough to compete against the best in the lightweight division.
"No, to be honest," Moicano told MMA Junkie if Chandler could beat a top 15 opponent now. "It's very tough, you know? So people think I dislike Chandler, I don't dislike Chandler. I respect him. I just don't think he's that good, you know?
"He's powerful, he can knock anybody out in the lightweight division, but right now for him, it's going to be very hard to get a dub. He's 2-4 in UFC, three straight losses, and his best win was over Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson. I don't know. I don't see him getting back."
Chandler suffered his third consecutive loss at UFC 314. His opponent, Paddy Pimblett, dominated the fight, leaving the former Bellator champion on the canvas in a bloody mess after a third-round TKO stoppage. After recording a Knockout of the Year contender against Tony Ferguson at UFC 274, Chandler hasn't won a fight. He has since lost by submission to Dustin Poirier, dropped a unanimous decision to Charles Oliveira, and now most recently, a TKO loss to Pimblett.
To Chandler's credit, he does bring excitement to the table, which is why he has won bonuses in five of his seven UFC bouts. However, to stay relevant among the best names at 155, wins must be recorded. Moicano believed Chandler only had one path to victory in the fight against Pimblett, and it did not come together for him. Combine his recent performances along with being 38, and Moicano doesn't see much upside for Chandler's career at this point.
"I said I think Paddy Pimblett was going to win because Michael Chandler's only chance is the right hand," Moicano said. "If he did not connect it, it's going to be very hard for him. ... Because if you remember, Charles Oliveira did out-wrestle Chandler, and Charles is not a wrestler. He took down Chandler like every single round. I was surprised Chandler tried to wrestle in the first round, was trying takedowns, was trying to control Paddy Pimblett, but he's getting a little bit older, so it's going to be hard for him to keep the same pace, you know?"
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
38 minutes ago
- USA Today
Anthony Hernandez 'still not really sold' on Khamzat Chimaev before UFC 319
Anthony Hernandez thinks Khamzat Chimaev is still unproven heading into his first UFC title fight. Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) challenges middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in the UFC 319 headliner on Aug. 16 from United Center in Chicago (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Chimaev is the betting favorite heading into his fight with Du Plessis, who holds wins over former champions Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland. However, Hernandez isn't ready to buy into the undefeated phenom's hype just yet. "I think DDP is going to shock the world again," Hernandez told MMA Junkie. "He's a big, tough, awkward motherf*cker, and I'm still not really sold on Khamzat. I understand he's good, and he's dangerous, yada yada, but he's kind of fought all small guys who have come up. (Kamaru) Usman gave him a run for his money off the couch, so how does he do with somebody that's like a real 85'er?" Hernandez (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) will look to enter the middleweight title picture when he takes on Roman Dolidze (15-3 MMA, 9-3) in Saturday's UFC on ESPN 72 (ESPN, ESPN+) main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Khamzat Chimaev addresses Dricus Du Plessis 'weird' style, UFC 319 pre-fight trash talk
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Khamzat Chimaev isn't too concerned with how UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis looks while fighting inside the cage. While many have found Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) to have an awkward style, Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) knows how effective it can be. After all, it led him to the peak of the UFC's 185-pound division. Chimaev will get his opportunity to see how different his style first hand when they clash inside the cage in the main event of UFC 319 in Chicago. "Everyone says he has a weird style, very weird – that's MMA, MMA style," Chimaev told reporters at a media day. "I don't think he's some crazy, weird (fighter), but he does his job. He does good and he's a good fighter. I am better." Chimaev has proven to be one of the biggest problems in the division, but he, too, is not without criticism. If a fight makes it out of the first round, where Chimaev has finished five of his eight bouts, questions about his cardio have risen due to his performances in decision wins against Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman. It's an issue that Chimaev and team have focused on leading into his first shot at UFC gold by bringing in a new strength and conditioning coach. His head coach, Joakim Karlsson, said Chimaev's cardio is on a different level now. The early aggression from Chimaev could dictate the outcome of the fight. He intends to get Du Plessis to the canvas to find out how he will deal with his grappling game that led to finishes of former champ Robert Whittaker and contenders such as Kevin Holland and Li Jingliang. "When someone laying down on the mats, it's how weird you are on the ground," Chimaev said. "Ground and pound, submissions – they don't care about your style. We will see. We'll be happy to see him in the cage. We will fight him striking, wrestling, grappling. I want to know how he can handle it." Karlsson not only said Chimaev's cardio is vastly improved, but he has also taken training overall more seriously ahead of UFC 319. The fight promotion side of the game has been apparent on social media as well, as Chimaev and Du Plessis have gone back and forth trading barbs online. For Chimaev, it's all business, and if it ruffles the champ's feathers, then so be it. "We're just making money, having fun," Chimaev said. "If he wants to take it personally, it's up to him. For me, it's just work. It makes people happy, it makes me happy. Like I said before, beating somebody makes me happy."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
CSAC's Andy Foster explains shake-up to MMA scoring criteria, potential for future rule changes
Andy Foster, the California State Athletic Commission executive director and one of MMA's most influential regulators, is pushing this week for a major scoring shake-up. If successful, it'll prioritize damage over all else, offering a clearer pathway for judges to identify 10-8 and even 10-7 rounds. In boxing, a knockdown often triggers a 10-8. In MMA, that's not always the case. A proposed update to the Unified Rules of MMA could change that — pending a vote that's expected to pass this week at the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports' (ABC) annual conference in New Orleans. Once official, it will formalize what Foster says many judges already practice — that is, scoring based on the visible effect of strikes and grappling, with damage at the top of the criteria list. 'To get a 10-8 in mixed martial arts is now going to require significant damage,' Foster told Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show." That's "as close as we can get" to boxing's clearer 10-8 system, per the commissioner. Foster said the new language — if approved by ABC — solidifies how judges interpret dominant rounds. While 10-8s already account for 'damage, domination and duration,' damage takes precedence, always. 'Damage is the No. 1 scoring criteria through effective striking and effective grappling," he said. 'You've heard these other terms — effective aggressiveness, effective cage control — [but] the only thing that matters is how the techniques, through striking or grappling, impacted the opponent.' The change is also meant to bring consistency to judges, commentators and fans. The recent featherweight bout between Mohammad Yahya and Steven Nguyen at UFC Abu Dhabi sparked widespread debate, for example. There were six knockdowns in the opening round, and all three judges awarded Nguyen a 10-8. For Foster, "It should have been a 10-7 [even] under the current criteria." 'I would have hoped that fight would have been stopped after the fifth knockdown,' said Foster. 'I'd have had no issues [if it were stopped] after the fourth. For goodness' sakes, he had to have had some assistance back to the corner. There were a lot of places it could have been stopped. I would not have felt comfortable sending him out, [if it were] in California, for the second round.' Despite the criticism, Foster backed referee Jason Herzog — one of MMA's most respected referees, who oversaw the match. He said the two spoke shortly after the event. 'He's one of the best referees in the world," Foster said. "It's a difficult conversation. The hope is that he learns from this. Hopefully, every referee does. Six knockdowns is a bit much.' The exchange triggered a wider discussion about whether a set knockdown limit — like boxing's 'three-knockdown rule' — could apply to MMA. But Foster is unconvinced. "I'm definitely in disagreement with that," he said. 'The first three knockdowns were not what I'd call significant. Jon Anik mentioned a five-knockdown rule, I think. And I'm not in favor of that, either. 'Really, in practicality, [five is] a pretty good number, a gauge. But you have to look at factors going into it. If they're concussive knockdowns, [and if the] brain rattled.' Foster also pointed to the different cultures of cornering MMA and boxing bouts. Coaches in the latter sport withdraw their beaten fighters far more frequently than those in MMA. 'MMA is younger and boxing is older,' Foster said. 'You have older guys who have more information and have seen more. They are more wise and savvy — they'll save their fighter for another day. In MMA these guys … 'You're tough, can probably make it out.' It's just a different kind of thing.' Foster also emphasized his desire to minimize 10-10 rounds entirely. 'If you're watching a fight for five minutes, and you can't tell me who won that fight, I'll find another judge,' Foster warned. 'It messes up the scoring. You need to pick a winner, and if people are putting 10-10s, there's a lack of consistency in the scoring.' While the idea of adding a fourth or fifth judge has been floated, Foster noted logistical challenges. 'That real estate where judges sit is pretty crowded if it's a TV fight,' he said. He also warned against too many rule tweaks too quickly. "I do not want any further changes for a while," he said, adding that ones implemented last year — from clarifying the ruling on grounded fighters, to legalizing 12-6 elbows, should have gone through a long time ago. "I think [those ruling changes] worked out more than fine." Foster also commented on the fate the now-defunct Global Fight League (GFL). The organization created promotional material, said it had signed fighters to teams, and even put together a draft. However, it fell apart financially and ultimately failed before it could even hold its first event, which was expected to take place in Foster's jurisdiction of California. Foster wanted "to see certain financial things" before GFL made it to a fight night. "I'm not going to go into a fight and not be sure the fighters can be paid," he said. "I'm not going to have a brand new promotion come into California, talking major money, more than what I'd consider market rate, and not put some checks and balances in." He's also working to boost California's unique fighter retirement fund through that state's DMV. Should the CSAC secure 7,500 license plates on pre-order, then the DMV will escalate their production. The proceeds would go toward fighter pensions. Though a promising initiative, it may be a long while before other major athletic commissions in the U.S., like Nevada and New York, follow suit. "I've not seen interest from other commissions," to replicate the fund in their regions, said Foster. Foster's rule changes — and the conversations they've sparked — speak to an evolving sport still working to strike the right balance between entertainment, safety and competitive clarity. 'When we talk about what we want for MMA, I'd like to see more high-level people doing the teaching — whether that's judges, refs, or corners," he said. "Everyone has a part to play."
