5 Defining Moments: Renato ‘Money’ Moicano

If Renato “Money” Moicano continues to play his hand right, he could soon find himself in position to challenge for the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight crown.

The 35-year-old Brazilian will look to take yet another step forward at 155 pounds when he confronts Beneil Dariush in a three-round UFC 311 showcase on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Moicano has built some considerable momentum since he moved to the lightweight division, compiling a 7-2 record across his nine outings. He last saw action at UFC Fight Night 243, where he prompted a doctor stoppage against Benoit St. Denis in between the second and third rounds of their Sept. 28 booking.

As Moicano makes final preparations for his upcoming clash with Dariush, a look at five of the many moments that have come to define him:

1. First Watch

Moicano handled business in his promotional debut and submitted Tom Niinimaki with rear-naked choke in the second round of their UFC Fight Night 58 prelim on Dec. 20, 2014 at Jose Correa Arena in Barueri, Brazil. The end came 3:30 into Round 2. Operating in the shadows of the Lyoto Machida-C.B. Dollaway main event, the undefeated Moicano carved up the Finnish featherweight on the feet, as he threw and landed and combination throughout what was a largely one-sided affair. Moicano countered beautifully, mixed in leg attacks and targeted the head and body with kicks. A two-punch combination spearheaded by a left hook wobbled Niinimaki and allowed the Brazilian to assume top position and eventually achieve full mount. Soon after, the Constrictor Team export was on Niinimaki’s back with a body triangle. The choke came next, and Niinimaki had no choice but to tap.

2. All Choked Up

Former Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion Brian Ortega took care of the previously Moicano with a third-round guillotine choke as part of the UFC 214 undercard on July 29, 2017 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The tapout came 2:59 into Round 3. Ortega tore into the Brazilian with repeated right hands throughout much of the first round, bloodying his nose in the process. Moicano made the necessary adjustments and connected with multi-strike combinations in the middle stanza, often punctuating them with kicks to the leg and body. He incorporated a late takedown for good measure. Round 3 was following a similar narrative, until Moicano shot for an ill-advised takedown. Ortega clamped down on the guillotine, wrapped him in full guard and forced his surrender.

3. Iconic Encounter

Jose Aldo carved up Moicano and eventually disposed of him with punches in the second round of their UFC Fight Night 144 featherweight co-main event on Feb. 2, 2019 at Centro de Formacao Olimpica do Nordeste in Fortaleza, Brazil. Referee Jerin Valel waved it off 44 seconds into Round 2. Aldo spent much of the opening round stalking and measuring his counterpart. In the beginning stages of the second, the former World Extreme Cagefighting and UFC champion staggered Moicano with a clean left hook and cut loose with hooks, uppercuts and knees. Aldo only increased the intensity of his assault from there. Moicano retreated to the fence but found no refuge, as the Brazilian icon ripped into him with blistering hooks and uppercuts until the job was done.

4. A New Home

Moicano made a rousing move to the lightweight division when he dismissed Damir Hadzovic with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 170 attraction on March 14, 2020 at Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasilia, Brazil. It was over in just 44 seconds. Now based at the star-studded American Top Team camp in Coconut Creek, Florida, Moicano became an immediate person of interest at 155 pounds following his first sub-minute finish as a pro. He completed a takedown after a brief standup exchange, then made a smooth transition to the back. Soon after, the fight-ending choke was in place. Hadzovic, who had never before been submitted, had no choice but to raise the white flag.

5. No Arachnophobia

Moicano showed considerable resolve, withstood a near finish and buried Jalin Turner with elbows and punches in the second round of their UFC 300 lightweight prelim on April 13, 2024 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The curtain fell 4:11 into Round 2. Turner appeared to sting the Brazilian with a pair of early front kicks to the body, then almost ended it with a straight left hand late in the first round. Moicano hit the deck in a dazed state, where he was ripe for the picking. Instead of following up, Turner elected to walk away in hopes of procuring a sensational stoppage. Moicano rose to his feet, survived the waning seconds and recovered between rounds. It was a sequence Turner would live to regret. Moicano took down “The Tarantula” a minute into Round 3, advanced to full mount and went to work with his world-class ground skills. He ultimately settled on a three-quarter mount, trapped Turner beneath him and cut loose with blows from above until referee Herb Dean intervened.