Uncle Dana Playing with Money Moicano

Renato Moicano Deserves More Love from the UFC

It’s hard to believe what just happened after UFC Paris. Renato Moicano pulled off a stunning upset against Benoit Saint-Denis (BSD) in his own backyard, delivering one of the best performances of his career. He silenced the raucous French crowd, executed a flawless game plan, and walked away with a hard-earned victory. But instead of riding the wave of momentum and getting the love he deserves, Moicano has been met with complete indifference by the UFC. No performance bonus, no movement in the rankings, no hype. Nothing.

This is crazy. Let’s break down why Moicano should be getting a lot more respect.

The Fight: Moicano’s Underrated Masterpiece

Benoit Saint-Denis had all the momentum heading into this fight. The Frenchman was on a tear, racking up finishes, and had the entire arena behind him. Moicano, on the other hand, was being counted out by almost everyone. But as soon as the fight started, it became clear that this wasn’t going to be the easy night for BSD that many expected.

Moicano’s striking was crisp, his defense sharp, and his grappling was as dangerous as ever. He completely neutralized BSD’s aggressive style, outclassing him in every area. When the fight hit the mat, Moicano’s jiu-jitsu took over, and he threatened with submissions at every turn. It was a high-level performance that showed how dangerous Moicano still is in the lightweight division.

And yet, after pulling off the upset in hostile territory, Moicano was met with silence. Check out the video from the FullGuardMMA team:

No Bonus? No Hype?

How does someone like Moicano not get a performance bonus after pulling off such a massive victory? This is a fighter who went into enemy territory, took on one of the UFC’s rising stars, and came away with his hand raised. If that’s not worthy of a performance bonus, what is?

The UFC is often quick to reward exciting fighters with bonuses, and Moicano has proven time and again that he’s one of those guys. His submission win over Alexander Hernandez last year earned him a bonus, and he’s constantly in entertaining fights. Yet after taking out BSD, nothing. No $50,000. No highlight packages plastered all over UFC social media. It’s like the fight never happened.

Stuck in the Rankings

Another baffling aspect of this situation is how Moicano’s victory has done absolutely nothing for his position in the rankings. He’s still stuck in the same spot in the lightweight division, while other fighters who haven’t been as active or successful continue to move up. Moicano just beat a hyped-up prospect on a winning streak, in a tough environment, but the rankings committee clearly didn’t get the memo.

At 155 pounds, the lightweight division is stacked, and it’s not easy to climb the ladder. But when a veteran like Moicano delivers a standout performance against a fighter on the rise, there should be some recognition. Instead, he’s been left in the same position, watching others move past him.

What’s Next for Moicano?

Renato Moicano deserves better, plain and simple. He’s proven time and again that he’s an elite fighter, capable of taking on the best in the world. It’s frustrating to see a talent like him get overlooked, especially after such a gutsy performance. Moicano should be in the mix for a bigger fight, more media attention, and yes, a performance bonus.

The UFC has a history of promoting brash, loud fighters, and Moicano, with his “Moicano wants money” attitude, has tried to inject some personality into his post-fight interviews. But when he’s not getting the opportunities or recognition he’s earned, it feels like the promotion is dropping the ball.

If the UFC won’t give Moicano the love he deserves, the fans need to. This guy is legit, and he’s here to stay.