MMA UK

Renato Moicano calls out “easy money” Paddy Pimblett, rants on UFC rankings

Alan Oliveira 01/10/2024

Renato Moicano was a standout at last weekend’s UFC Paris event. Being an underdog, he won dominantly Benoit Saint-Denis and gave a speech calling for fights he considers “easy money”, as well as criticising the French president, Emmanuel Macron. Always active on social media, the Brazilian reacted this Tuesday upon seeing that he hadn’t moved up in the UFC rankings. “That’s the first time I’ve seen somebody destroy their opponent and not move up in the rankings… I guess MMA journalists love Macron too.” Ranked 11th, Renato expected to be ranked 6th, even after beating a lower-ranked opponent, who was in 12th place. On his X account, the lightweight fighter explained his expectations. “I should be ranked No. 6 in the lightweight division. Why? In the last eight months, I’ve fought three times, and I’m on a six-fight win streak in the lightweight division, with five stoppages. Yet, ranked above me is #10 Max Holloway, a legend, but he’s at 145 and will be facing Topuria for the featherweight belt at UFC 308. Number 9 Rafael Fiziev is coming off two losses to Mateusz Gamrot and Justin Gaethje. Number 8, Mateusz Gamrot, is coming off a loss to Dan Hooker in August 2024. Number 7, Beneil Dariush is coming off two losses to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. There’s no way I shouldn’t be No. 6 in the lightweight division right now.” To move up the rankings, Moicano should call out someone ranked above him to climb positions. He did ask for Dan Hooker, who’s ranked 5th, but seems more inclined to face Paddy Pimblett, who’s ranked 15th. “Hooker and Pimblett are easy money. But I’d like to do The Ultimate Fighter with Pimblett. I need cameras, I need more recognition. I’d like to face Conor McGregor to get the spotlight, but I don’t think he’s coming back to fight. That’s why I think Paddy could fit”, said in the press conference.

Charles Oliveira Doesn’t Want “Chandler’s Place” in Case of a Win at UFC 309: “McGregor Is Not Our Goal”

Alan Oliveira 27/09/2024

Charles Oliveira will face Michael Chandler at UFC 309 on 16th November. The American was expected to be Conor McGregor’s next opponent but decided to stop waiting for the Irishman and move on with his career in the division. Does a win for the Brazilian mean “taking Chandler’s place” in a possible money fight against Conor? Not according to Oliveira’s coach, Diego Lima. “McGregor is not our focus right now; we always aim for the belt. We wouldn’t turn down the fight, of course, but we plan to fight for the belt in the summer of 2025, against Makhachev or Tsarukyan,” he revealed to the Brazilian website PVT. Although they are making plans for 2025, Charles and his team know they cannot overlook Chandler. The American is ranked 4th in the lightweight division, while Charles is ranked 2nd. In 2021, they faced each other, and for two judges, Chandler scored a 10-8 in the first round but ended up losing by TKO 19 seconds into the second round. “We knew Chandler starts the fight at a fast pace and that we would have to withstand the initial pressure. Charles held on; Chandler had given everything to win the fight in the first round and couldn’t handle Charles in the second. We’ll aim not to have the same scare in the next fight, win, and wait for the title shot,” said Lima, who pointed out the favourite for the likely fight between champion Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan. “I have a lot of respect for Arman; he deserves to be the next contender, even though Charles came closer to finishing the fight against him in three rounds. But there’s no way not to see Makhachev as the favourite.” Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler is the co-main event of UFC 309, which will have Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic as the main fight. The event will take place at Madison Square Garden, in New York.