The best and worst from UFC 227

#3 Best: Moicano is clearly for real

Renato Moicano finished Cub Swanson in impressive fashion

I felt like Renato Moicano was one of the more underrated fighters on the UFC’s roster prior to UFC 227, largely because despite some impressive wins – Jeremy Stephens, Calvin Kattar – he hadn’t quite picked up that signature victory. Last night changed that though as he simply destroyed a very highly-rated contender in Cub Swanson.

Most fans expected Cub to have an advantage striking, but that turned out not to be the case as the Brazilian dropped him with a stiff jab midway through the first round, and from there his finishing instincts were ruthless, as he submitted Swanson with a rear naked choke moments later.

Sure, Swanson might be past his prime – he’s lost his last three fights now – but he’d only ever lost to legitimate top fighters like Frankie Edgar, Brian Ortega and Max Holloway before, and so this win must put Moicano in the conversation with those three. With the future of Holloway up in the air and a recent loss to Ortega on his ledger it’s hard to see where Moicano goes next, but he’s a genuine contender for sure. Maybe he could face the winner of Edgar vs. the Korean Zombie?