Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega was expected to (finally) make his lightweight debut opposite 155-pound fan favorite Renato Moicano as part of the upcoming UFC 326 event on Paramount+, scheduled for Sat., March 7, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Not happening.
That’s according to Léo Walker Guimaraes, who also brought word that lightweight “Big Train” Tom Nolan has been tapped to replace “T-City.” Nolan, 25, is the winner of four
straight, which includes his submission victory over Charlie Campbell at UFC Perth last Fall.
Moicano, 36, is looking to rebound from last year’s UFC 317 loss to Beneil Dariush.
Ortega’s withdrawal marks another setback for the No. 10-ranked featherweight contender, who’s dropped four of his last five and hospitalized himself trying to make weight for UFC Shanghai. The exact reason for his absence at UFC 326 has yet to be revealed.
For the current UFC 326 fight card and Paramount+ lineup click here.
