Moicano Rips Ortega, Now Headlines UFC Vegas 123
Renato Moicano rips Brian Ortega for pulling out of UFC 331, now headlines UFC Vegas 123 vs Tom Nolan on Oct. 31.
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Renato Moicano is now the headliner for UFC Vegas 123 against Tom Nolan on Oct. 31, a booking that came together only after Brian Ortega withdrew from their scheduled UFC 331 matchup with a cut over his left eye.
The featherweight clash was supposed to happen Sept. 19 in Ortega's hometown of Los Angeles. It was the second time the fight had fallen apart, after an earlier March date between the two also collapsed. Moicano didn't hide how he felt about losing the fight for a second time, tearing into Ortega on his YouTube channel.
"Ortega chickened out," Moicano said. "Something I never expected whatsoever. Quite simply, the easiest fight in the division just slipped right through my fingers."
Why Moicano Is So Angry About the Ortega Cancellation
Moicano says he trained a full camp, cut weight and gave up time on his YouTube channel only to watch the fight disappear again with the walkout just days away. He pointed out the timing and circumstances made it sting worse, noting Ortega pulled out in his own backyard.
"How many days of live streams did I miss, you son of a bitch?" Moicano said. "How many days of dieting did I go through just to punch your bum-ass face? And then you simply come up with an excuse like that."
Moicano also raised Ortega's history of missing weight against Sterling and his layoff from competition, arguing the pattern of pullouts and setbacks will follow him. "Nobody is ever going to trust you again," Moicano said. "Who's going to want to fight Brian Ortega?"
What This Means for Moicano's Betting Value Going Forward
Moicano turning a canceled pay-per-view co-feature into a UFC Vegas 123 headliner against Tom Nolan is a soft landing competitively. He gets to stay busy and keep his name in the title conversation without absorbing a loss from a fight he never got to have. For bettors who had circled the Ortega matchup, that line simply evaporates, and the market now resets entirely around Moicano and Nolan on Oct. 31.
Moicano, at 37, made clear he sees limited upside in chasing Ortega again, calling him "easy money" in one breath while admitting he's lost patience for chasing a fight that keeps falling through. Whether the UFC tries to rebook Ortega against Moicano a third time will depend on Ortega proving he can actually get to the cage healthy, something he has not done in this rivalry twice running.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Brian Ortega pull out of his fight with Renato Moicano at UFC 331?
Brian Ortega withdrew from the Sept. 19 UFC 331 card after suffering a cut over his left eye, marking the second time a bout with Renato Moicano fell apart.
Who is Renato Moicano fighting next?
Renato Moicano now headlines UFC Vegas 123 against Tom Nolan on Oct. 31 after his scheduled fight with Brian Ortega was scrapped.
Has Renato Moicano fought Brian Ortega before?
No, a fight between Renato Moicano and Brian Ortega has been scrapped twice, first in March and again ahead of UFC 331 in September, and the two have never actually fought.
