In the main event of UFC Paris this weekend, Brazil’s Renato Moicano is hoping to enter enemy territory and come away with the win.
His bout with fellow top 15 lightweight Benoît Saint Denis is sure to be an exciting clash of styles at the Accor Arena.
It’s also a big opportunity for Saint Denis, who will have the chance to headline a UFC card in his home country for the first time.
In previous years, this honor has gone to Ciryl Gane but now it is time for the “God of War” to step up and bounce back from his loss to Dustin Poirier from earlier this year.
Renato Moicano Says The UFC Chose The Wrong Opponent For Potential Star Benoît Saint Denis
As a teammate of Poirier’s at American Top Team, Moicano was critical of the match-up between “The Diamond” and Saint Denis at UFC 299 in March.
He believed that the promotion was trying to build up the Frenchman by giving him an opportunity that at that stage in his career, he didn’t necessarily deserve.
Now that he is set to face Saint Denis for himself over five rounds on September 28, “Money” Moicano wants to ruin the promotion’s plans.
He told MMA Fighting in a recent interview that he understands why the promotion are big fans of his opponent but if they want to make him into a star, they picked the wrong opponent.
“100% they trying to push Benoît Saint Denis and I’m not even mad, that is just business. I know Europe is a huge market, they don’t have many European fighters doing very well and Benoît Saint Denis is a dangerous fighter. He’s an aggressive fighter and UFC likes him, he’s young, you know? He’s young, European, good market, he can make good money for the UFC but guess what? UFC called the wrong guy because I’m going over there and I’m beating him.”
Read also: Jon Jones’ Coach On Retirement Rumors: MMA Doesn’t Treat Aging Fighters Kindly
