Renato Moicano delivers upset win at UFC Paris

This Saturday, Sep. 28, the UFC returned to the Accor Arena in Paris, France for a Fight Night event headlined by surging lightweights Benôit St-Denis and Renato Moicano.

In the main event, a highly anticipated lightweight bout between No.12 St-Denis and No.11 Moicano ended in dramatic fashion as Moicano secured a victory by doctor stoppage at the start of round 3. Moicano entered the fight as a heavy underdog, but proved oddsmakers wrong his performance tonight. Within the first minute of round 1, Moicano executed a takedown, forcing St-Denis to the canvas. From there, he unleashed a brutal onslaught of ground-and-pound, landing heavy fists and sharp elbows that left St-Denis bloodied and visibly shaken by the end of the round.

In the second round, St-Denis visibly wore the damage of round 1, particularly around his eyes which became severely swollen. Though the fight remained standing, Moicano controlled the distance, peppering St-Denis with precise strikes while avoiding any significant return fire. St-Denis struggled to find his rhythm and was unable to mount a meaningful offense. As the third round was set to begin, the cage-side doctor assessed St-Denis and determined that he could no longer see properly due to the damage he had taken. As a result, the fight was stopped, giving Moicano a stunning upset victory by doctor stoppage.

During his post fight interview, Moicano went on an explicative-filled tirade against the French government and its president. During his last few fights, Moicano has become known for his post-fight speeches, with tonight proving to be no exception. 

In the co-main event, the middleweight clash between No. 4 Nassourdine Imavov and No. 8 Brendan Allen showcased a dynamic shift in momentum as Imavov secured a hard-fought unanimous decision victory after surviving a very poor first round. The first round clearly belonged to Allen, who effortlessly took Imavov down and maintained dominant top control for the entirety of the round, leaving Imavov little room to maneuver or mount any offense. Allen’s superior grappling appeared to set the tone early, keeping Imavov trapped on the mat and neutralizing his ability to strike.

However, in rounds two and three, Imavov made necessary adjustments, scrambling out of takedown attempts and effectively keeping the fight on the feet. Imavov quickly began to assert dominance on the feet, outstriking Allen with clean, powerful shots that landed more frequently. His precise striking and sharp combinations gradually wore Allen down, and though Allen continued to attempt takedowns, Imavov’s improved defensive wrestling nullified his efforts. By the end of the third round, Imavov’s control over the fight on the feet had left little doubt in the judges’ minds, earning him the unanimous decision victory and solidifying his place as a top contender in the middleweight division and one of the next to challenge for the title.

Next Saturday, Oct. 7, the UFC will return to St. Lake City for UFC 307. The card will be headlined by Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira who will faced No.8 Khalil Rountree Jr.