The UFC returns to Paris this weekend for a third consecutive September event and the crowd at Accor Arena will be treated to a thrilling lightweight matchup between fan favourite Renato “Money” Moicano and France’s own Benoit Saint Denis in the main event.
It will be Moicano’s first UFC main event in more than five years, but the Brazilian who’s ranked as the No. 11 contender in the stacked 155-pound division is deserving of the spotlight.
Moicano (19-5-1) has won three in a row, including a technical knockout of Jalin Turner at April’s UFC 300. He has gotten his hand raised in five of his past six fights with the lone loss being a five-round unanimous decision to former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 272 in what was a catchweight bout that Moicano took on only four days’ notice.
Despite being a decent-sized betting underdog heading into enemy territory on Saturday, Moicano hopes to live up to his “Money” nickname and leave France with another win bonus and possibly performance bonus in hand.
“A win is always a win and I’m in a good position now so I want to keep climbing the rankings, keeping active in fighting and this is another time I can prove I’m one of the best in the world,” Moicano told Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter this week.
Saint Denis (13-2) is the No. 12-ranked contender in the division and coming off his first career stoppage loss back in March. It came courtesy of Dustin Poirier, one of Moicano’s American Top Team teammates, who delivered a devastating knockout punch to Saint Denis in the UFC 299 co-main event.
Moicano, 35, got some advice from Poirier and fellow ATT lightweight Thiago Moises, who had a Fight of the Night with Saint Denis 12 months ago in Paris.
“There is no mystery behind (Saint Denis’ style),” Moicano said. “He’s aggressive, he will come guns blazing, try to knock me out, try to take me down, and I will keep him at a distance. I will punch him and the fight will go like that.”
Saturday’s event will be the third consecutive September during which Saint Denis has competed on the annual UFC Paris card and his first main event since joining the UFC roster in 2021. The 28-year-old had finished five consecutive opponents prior to his loss to Poirier.
“He’s not going to give up and I don’t give up too so that makes a good fight for sure,” Moicano added. “My mentality is never give up, go attack, try my best, do my best. Until the last second of the last round I will be trying to finish and knock him out.”