Renato Moicano is eager to get into a fight again.
Moicano last fought in November of 2022 when he submitted Brad Riddell. He was then booked to fight Arman Tsarukyan in April, but an injury forced him to withdraw, and the Brazilian didn’t get to fight at all in 2023, which was frustrating for him.
“It was disappointing because I was fighting Arman who was ranked very high and I wanted to test myself against the best. Unfortunately, I got hurt but it is what it is,” Moicano said on Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com.
Once Moicano was ready to return, he was hoping to get a fight against someone ranked above him. Instead, that wasn’t the case as he will take on Drew Dober at UFC Vegas 85, which is an exciting fight, but the Brazilian is more annoyed that the fight isn’t a main event and at the UFC Apex with no fans.
“It doesn’t matter, of course, I want to fight guys that are higher ranked than me,” Moicano said. “But, at the end of the day, the UFC makes the fights and they want to see this fight, and I’m down… I was surprised but again I can’t control that, to be honest with you, I thought this should be a main event, five rounds, but I’m cool with the co-main event. My only problem is with it being at the Apex. I don’t like the Apex, I think the UFC, we don’t need the Apex anymore.”
Although Renato Moicano is frustrated the fight is at the Apex, he is looking forward to his UFC Vegas 85 scrap against Drew Dober. Moicano believes it’s a fan-friendly fight that will likely end by stoppage.
“He’s a knockout artist, I’m a submission artist, I’m a submission guy, I’m a jiu-jitsu guy so let’s see if I’m going to take him down. I will try and hang on the feet, but one thing is for sure, I’m very well-rounded and I know Drew Dober does the best. He knows what I do the best and let’s see who can figure it out first. I’m not taking him easily, he’s a tough challenge, but at the end of the day, I believe in my skills, I believe in my mindset,” Moicano said.
The goal for Renato Moicano is to get the fight to the ground and get a submission win over Drew Dober, as he eyes a first-round finish at UFC Vegas 85.
“I think it’s going to be a fun fight,” Moicano said. “He will try and punch me in the face, I will try and punch him in the face and it’s going to be a fight. There is no mystery in that, it’s going to be a f*****g fight. The fans will enjoy it… I’m going to do my best to finish Dober in the first round.”
Should Moicano finish Dober in the first round at UFC Vegas 85 as he hopes, he wants to return in May at UFC 301 which is rumored to take place in Brazil.
“I would love to be on the Brazil card, but it depends on the opponent, it depends on the win and my performance. I would like to fight in Brazil, May sounds good,” Moicano concluded.
