Latest news with #Moicano
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Beneil Dariush before UFC 317: Training for Renato Moicano 'kind of stale' now
Beneil Dariush before UFC 317: Training for Renato Moicano 'kind of stale' now Beneil Dariush admits there is a challenge in keeping things fresh during preparation for his UFC 317 fight against Renato Moicano. Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) will return to competition for the first time in 18 months when he meets Moicano (20-6-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) in a lightweight bout on the June 28 card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). At least he hopes that's what will go down. The pair were initially scheduled to fight at UFC 311 in January, but it fell apart on weigh-in day when Moicano was elevated into a main event title fight against Islam Makhachev. The left Dariush without an opponent or fight, which was disappointing despite being paid his full purse. Dariush, No. 8 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings, said he understands why the UFC rescheduled the bout with No. 12-ranked Moicano. However, he's now been training for the same opponent since late 2024, and it's a little dull. "You get kind of stale on it," Dariush told MMA Junkie Radio. "I've got to freshen up on all the homework I was doing. ... I don't really look at it as unfinished business." The biggest driving force for Dariush going into UFC 317 is knowing that the 155-pound division is a new world of opportunity after Makhachev vacated the belt to move to welterweight. Ilia Topuria will fight Charles Oliveira to crown a new champion on the same card where Dariush competes. Dariush said that's a good opportunity for him to perform and show he's still a real contender. "I could be maybe two fights away," Dariush said. "If I have a good performance now, I beat a top five guy then I beat a top five guy, I'm in title contention. You never know. Sometimes one fight might be enough. It might take three. It will probably take two more fights to be honest with you." As far as who will leave UFC 317 with the belt, Dariush said he's inclined to believe that Topuria is about to get his moment of glory and take the division into a new phase. "I don't think I have a preference," Dariush said. "I want the best fighter to win. It's interesting to see if Ilia's style will translate from 145 to 155, because there is a different size, but there is going to be a different pressure in that size difference. Will he be able to apply the same pressure at 155? Will he be able to handle the grappling at 155? I feel like the answer is yes, but I'm looking forward to seeing it, especially against a guy like Charles. Charles is fantastic."
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano rebooked for UFC 317
Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano rebooked for UFC 317 An important UFC lightweight fight is headed to International Fight Week. Top-10 ranked contenders Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano have been aligned for awhile but will finally square off at UFC 317 on June 28 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. UFC CEO Dana White announced the news, along with other fight bookings, Tuesday on Instagram. Moicano (20-6-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) aims to bounce back from a failed title shot vs. Islam Makhachev in January. Moicano was not the expected title challenger until the day of weigh-ins after Arman Tsarukyan withdrew from the UFC 311 pay-per-view main event due to injury. Moicano lost by first-round submission. The defeat snapped a four-fight winning streak. Unfortunately for Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC), he was left as the odd man out, who was scheduled to fight Moicano. He has not competed since the last-minute cancellation. Dariush enters the fight eager to snap a two-fight skid, consisting of losses to Charles Oliveira and Tsarukyan. The latest UFC 317 lineup includes:
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Renato Moicano: 'It's very tough' for Michael Chandler to beat anyone in top 15
Renato Moicano: 'It's very tough' for Michael Chandler to beat anyone in top 15 Renato Moicano thinks it's unlikely that his UFC lightweight peer Michael Chandler would beat a top 15 opponent. 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?"
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Renato Moicano after UFC 314: 'I don't hate Paddy Pimblett'
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Maybe Paddy Pimblett and Renato Moicano will still fight some day, but if it happens, it won't be for a while. Heading into UFC 314, No. 10 Moicano was still ahead of No. 12 Pimblett in the official lightweight rankings. But after Pimblett's impressive third-round TKO demolishing of Michael Chandler this past Saturday, 'The Baddy' will have vaulted himself into top-five territory. 'I don't think I'm fighting Paddy Pimblett anytime soon,' Moicano told MMA Junkie on Monday. Moicano, who fell short in a last-minute title fight with Islam Makhachev this past January, is just being real about the situation. It's been a slow build to Pimblett's UFC career ever since his debut in 2021. Along the way, Pimblett and Moicano have exchanged plenty of trash talk in interviews and on social media, with Pimblett reigniting their feud following Moicano's loss to Makhachev. While there's always been heat between them, Moicano's tune has changed at least to some degree in the immediate aftermath of UFC 314. 'The thing is, people think I hate Paddy Pimblett. I don't hate Paddy Pimblett,' Moicano said. 'He has a lot of people who know him, so I wanted to fight him, but right now that fight is not a possibility. UFC is behind Paddy Pimblett. We know that. Why? Because Dana White just said in the (UFC 314) press conference a win over Chandler would put him in title contention. I don't agree with that at all, but who am I to blame? Who am I to talk about UFC? 'UFC knows what they're doing and if they're supporting Paddy, it's for a reason. Next opponent for Paddy Pimblett will be Charles (Oliveira) or Justin (Gaethje) for sure.' What's next for Moicano is unclear. With his wife expecting a baby in 'late May,' Moicano said he'll be ready to fight after the baby is born. Moicano said he doesn't care about the ranking of his opponent, either. 'Just give me an easy fight,' Moicano said.
USA Today
11-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC's Beneil Dariush open to rebooking Renato Moicano fight, but says Dan Hooker 'would be ideal'
Beneil Dariush sees Dan Hooker as a perfect option for his next fight. Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6 UFC) was scheduled to return against Renato Moicano at UFC 311 in January, but didn't end up competing after Moicano was pulled to face lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the main event. Dariush also put his hand up to step in, but the UFC ultimately went with Moicano. Moicano (20-6-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) wound up getting quickly submitted by Makhachev. Dariush, who was paid his purse, said the promotion promised to make it up to him. He'd accept rescheduling the Moicano fight, even though he wouldn't classify that as being rewarded. 'They've mentioned that about rebooking that fight, and I'm not against it because I'm not in a situation where I could be like, 'Oh, I want to fight this guy' coming off two losses,' Dariush told MMA Junkie. 'So if that's the fight they want to make, that's fine. I just figured when Dana (White) said, 'We're going to make it up to Dariush,' I figured it would be somebody ranked actually higher than me, not behind me. So whatever.' Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) was scheduled to face Justin Gaethje in Saturday's UFC 313 co-main event, but was forced out after fracturing his hand. He underwent surgery and is targeting a return at UFC 317 on June 28 against Arman Tsarukyan. If Hooker doesn't get that fight, Dariush is ready to face him in that timeline. 'Dan Hooker would be ideal because he's ranked ahead of me, and if he's trying to come back at International Fight Week, that would be a perfect time,' Dariush said. 'That's perfectly fine with me. I would be very happy with that setup if that's what they do.' Dariush also likes how he matches up with Hooker, who's on a three-fight winning streak. 'I have better tools everywhere,' Dariush said. 'I think I can outstrike him, I can outgrapple him, I even think I can outdog him if it's a three-round fight. I don't see where he would have an advantage over me.'
