Renato Moicano is here to make money, not wait around for Brian Ortega to make it to the octagon.
After repeated attempts to face Ortega (16-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) earlier this year, Moicano (21-7-1 MMA, 13-7 UFC) decided it was time to take on a different challenge to remain active. So, on Halloween, Moicano will meet Tom Nolan in the main event of UFC Fight Night 292 at the Meta APEX (Paramount+).
Moicano was fully prepared to fight Ortega, but Nolan (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) brings a completely different game, which prompted a shift in training camp.
"It was a great training camp for me. I was ready when Ortega pulled out, but I needed to do some adjustments for Tom Nolan, especially because he's so tall and way better striker than Brian Ortega," Moicano told MMA Junkie. "So, I focused my training camp on that: on the strategy, on what should I do. So, I spent a whole part of my camp doing the adjustments from the Ortega fight to Tom Nolan, and here am I. I'm ready."
The first booking against Ortega was for UFC 326 in March, but it fell apart because of injury. The second attempt was set for UFC 331, but that fell through after Ortega was cut during training camp. Moicano revealed he was offered a third date against Ortega, but he'd had enough after two training camps. The third date would have been on Nov. 21 in Doha, Qatar, but Moicano said he wasn't willing to risk another fight falling through.
"I'm not gonna take any chances, you know?" Moicano said. "I have to fight. I'm getting older. So, Tom Nolan it is. Dangerous guy, but I believe in myself. ... I prepared two training camps; I put a lot of work into. One time is OK, and that's why I accepted the second time. But two times? I think that's too much. Not only that, he did that before, right? Against Diego Lopes and a couple other fighters – Aljamain Sterling. So, I don't know. He needs to figure out – but that's not my problem."
Nolan brings a five-fight winning streak into his first main event opportunity. The Dana White's Contender Series signee has proven to be a finishing threat and has notched two first-round stoppages on his current run. Moicano, who bounced back into the win column in April with a submission win over Chris Duncan, knows that he's in for a stiff challenge, but remains confident in his ability to get the job done in what will be his fourth headlining bout.
"No, he's not easy money – and he doesn't have anything to lose," Moicano said. "That makes (this fight) even harder – but you know what? I like my odds. I like my style. I believe in myself. Another time Moicano is underdog, another time Moicano is gonna make some money."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Renato Moicano explains why he moved on from Brian Ortega to fight Tom Nolan