'I don't have much time'… Renato Moicano calls for a fast-track to UFC title after dominating win over hometown hero in Paris
09/29/2024 04:26 AM
'Money' Moicano certainly enjoyed spoiling the Parisian party last night as he stopped hometown hero Benoit Saint-Denis via a nasty doctor's stoppage after the second round.
Renato 'Money' Moicano has now catapulted himself into the Top 10 and the popular Brazilian submission specialist has two names in mind as to who he'd like to face next in the UFC octagon.
Renato Moicano spoils the UFC Paris party via nasty doctor's stoppage
The main event of UFC Paris couldn't have started any better for the Brazilian, who was quickly able to wrestle the 'God of War' down to the floor before landing vicious ground-and-pound from top position.
Those strikes immediately opened the Frenchman up and caused both of his eyes to swell; despite all three judges scoring the second round to Benoit Saint-Denis, they couldn't do anything about the bout being waved off between rounds under the advice of the ringside physician.
Whilst victory was secured under the bright lights of the Accor Arena, Moicano is certainly no spring chicken; and needs to make the most of his resurgence if he is to end his UFC career with a long-awaited title shot.
Renato Moicano calls for a fast-track to a UFC title shot with two names in mind
UFC Paris is an enormous victory for Moicano, who knows that such a win was exactly what he needed to keep his lightweight title aspirations alive – although 'Money' also understands that the clock is ticking for him to make the most of his recent career resurgence.
"Go to the top 15 and see somebody with six wins and five finishes, people cannot deny me anymore," he told media members at the post-fight press conference, explaining that given his limited time left in the sport, he wants one of two names next.
- OUCH: Moicano suffered horror injury mid-way through UFC Paris victory that could hinder Pimblett fight
"I am 35 years old; I don't have much time so now it's time to go… I want to beat Dan Hooker or Paddy Pimblett or someone else and fight for the title."
Moicano celebrated his 35th birthday back in May, having made his UFC debut all the way back in 2014 – CKB veteran Dan Hooker had already entered the promotion six months before ‘Money’, who had a rather hilarious insult ready for 'The Hangman' during his post-fight interview.
"If they give me Dan Hooker, easy money you know," he told the ESPN MMA team, "I don't know how he's Top 5 that's unbelievable, that's like if you see a turtle in a tree.
"He's like a turtle in a tree – how did a turtle get in a tree? Somebody put him there, that's the whole thing; he didn't climb the tree but he's on the tree, you know?
"If they want to give me an easy path to the title shot, Dan Hooker is easy money… Imagine if I take him down, what I am going to do to him – he has no ground game."
Moicano claimed that the popular Liverpudlian is another case of 'easy money', although there is more of a friendly rivalry with 'The Baddy' for one key reason.
"Paddy Pimblett is another easy money, but I respect him a little bit more, do you know why? Because he has a lot of followers, if you have followers then you have my respect."
There have been calls for Moicano and Pimblett to head up the next season of The Ultimate Fighter, with the Brazilian later acknowledging that he simply cannot afford to return to the loser's circle at this point in his career.
"I cannot afford to lose, I'm telling everybody, I have a house to pay for that I just bought; dumb decision but we don't do decisions by head but by heart… I cannot afford to lose, even if Khabib came back, I would beat Khabib."
With the win at UFC Paris, Renato Moicano moves to 20-5-1 as a professional, whilst Saint-Denis drops to 13-3.
