The lightweight division in the UFC remains one of the most competitive landscapes in combat sports, with fighters constantly balancing opportunities inside the cage with responsibilities outside of it. While upcoming fighters do not earn hefty paychecks, they find ways to earn money outside the Octagon. Such was the reason for Renato Moicano not to step in at short notice against Charles Oliveira at UFC Rio.
The UFC Rio main event was clouded by controversy after Rafael Fiziev pulled out of the main event due to an injury. However, after that, many of the top lightweight contenders, including Moicano, expressed their wish to step in on short notice. Moicano took to his YouTube channel and expressed interest in a main event fight against Oliveira on their home soil.
Despite his callout, the fight failed to materialize. This garnered a lot of backlash from fans around the world, as well as criticism from Oliveira himself. ‘Do Bronx’ called out other lightweight fighters and Moicano for failing to materialize when the contract was put in front of them. However, ‘Money Moicano’ recently revealed that the reason he did not step up on short notice was deeper than it seems.
When a fight like that shows up, of course, I want to go. If I beat Charles, I am a superstar. I don’t wanna give excuses, but I have an injury, I am not training that much, and I got a little bit sick too. I have been producing every day, and I have been doing six-hour livestreams. At this point I have to focus on fighting or making content. I am making good money, and if I stop working, the algorithms will go down.
Renato Moicano via Showmethepod
Throughout his UFC run, Moicano has earned respect for his willingness to take high-profile fights on short notice. In 2022, he stepped in on just days’ notice to face former champion Rafael dos Anjos in a five-round co-main event at UFC 272. He repeated this pattern at UFC 311, where he replaced Arman Tsarukyan, but came short against Islam Makhachev and lost his shot at the title via submission.
Over the years, Moicano has shared the cage with some of the division’s most notable names. He has competed against the likes of José Aldo, Chan Sung Jung, Brian Ortega, and Benoit Saint-Denis, gaining experience at both featherweight and lightweight. However, his most recent outing in the Octagon ended in disappointment as he lost a unanimous decision to Beneil Dariush.
Nevertheless, the UFC found a replacement fighter for the UFC Rio main event in Mateusz Gamrot. Over the past year, Renato Moicano has dedicated a considerable portion of his time to streaming and content creation, an avenue many fighters have embraced to build sustainable careers beyond competition. Moicano’s expansion into media reflects the evolving dynamics of modern MMA.
Renato Moicano reveals his source of inspiration to start a YouTube channel
Digital platforms have become a major outlet for fighters to connect with audiences, and many athletes are now producing content that extends their influence far beyond the octagon. Renato Moicano is one of the UFC fighters who has fully embraced this shift, using his YouTube channel to engage fans with fight breakdowns, live streams, training insights, and commentary on the sport.