![Islam Makhachev (left) is set to face last-minute replacement Renato Moicano (right) at UFC 311. [Image credit: @ufc on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/01/1be56-17371469579368-1920.jpg)
![Islam Makhachev (left) is set to face last-minute replacement Renato Moicano (right) at UFC 311. [Image credit: @ufc on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
UFC 311's main card experienced a major shake-up as one-half of the main event title fight, Arman Tsarukyan, pulled out of his bout against UFC lightweight king Islam Makhachev. The UFC found a replacement in Renato Moicano, who was supposed to fight Beneil Dariush in the same event.
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'Money Moicano', who is 6-1 in his last seven bouts, was originally set to be a backup fighter and was more than willing to challenge the champion with just a day's notice. The internet exploded upon hearing this news, with various media outlets and fellow fighters tweeting about the same.
Polarizing social media influencer and former MMA fighter Dillon Danis was not happy about Moicano stepping in. Despite having only two pro-MMA fights - the last happening - over six years ago, the former Pan Jiujitsu world champion volunteered to face Islam Makhachev:
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"Perfect time to settle everything. I’ll fly to LA tomorrow and fight @MAKHACHEVMMA no problem. I submit the inbr*d inside one round and send him back to his brother-and-sister parents. @moicanoufc is literally absolute garbage. This can’t be considered a title fight, and no one wants to see it. Let’s make it happen. I’m ready."
Renato Moicano sends a message to Islam Makhachev ahead of UFC 311
Ever since he submitted Brad Riddell and shouted on the mic, "Moicano! Wants! Money!" two years ago, Renato Moicano has been on an absolute tear in the UFC lightweight division. Not only that, his new-found brash and outspoken persona has been well-received by fans.
The Brazilian former featherweight is on a four-fight winning streak, with three coming by way of either KO/TKO or submission. His most recent win was via. doctor stoppage over Benoit Saint Denis back in September. He currently stands at no.10 in the UFC lightweight rankings.
Ahead of his massive opportunity at UFC 311 this weekend, 'Money Moicano' sent a message to the champion, Islam Makhachev:
"Money Moicano is coming for the belt! Be ready Islam Makhachev. Tomorrow is Money Time! Man, I'm so happy that I got this opportunity. I have been working for this for a long time and I know [it] could happen. That's why I was training five rounds, I was training for southpaw. And I'm ready and tomorrow I'm going to shock the world. Be ready because I am. This is Money Moicano. And tomorrow I'll be the champ of the world. Let's f*cking go!"
