Renato Moicano says if he were UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje, he should jump all over the opportunity to fight Alexander Volkanovski next.
Moicano is set to headline UFC Vegas 123 this Saturday against surging lightweight contender Tom Nolan at the Meta APEX. “Money” fought for the 155-pound title against Islam Makhachev on just a day’s notice at UFC 311 in January 2025 after Arman Tsarukyan was forced to withdraw from the scheduled championship rematch with Makhachev due to a back injury. Since
then, “Batman” has won three straight, including a win over former champ Charles Oliveira, and back-to-back stoppage wins against Dan Hooker and — a month prior at UFC 331 — Mauricio Ruffy.
Should Gaethje, who pulled off a massive upset against Ilia Topuria at UFC White House to become undisputed champion in June, continue fighting and face Tsarukyan next, Moicano believes it will be a very bad night for Gaethje.
“I think he will have a very hard night,” Moicano told MMA Fighting. “Arman is right now… after what he did to Ruffy, that was crazy. That was crazy, and I think Ruffy is a better striker than Gaethje.
“I’m not going to be here talking shit about Justin Gaethje. I am a huge fan. What he did was unbelievable against Topuria. But Arman is very well-rounded. Good striker, good grappler, good wrestler, very high fighting I.Q. So I think Arman is the next champion.”
While many believe Tsarukyan has been the rightful No. 1 contender for quite some time, any doubters were silenced after his Knockout of the Year contending finish of Ruffy in Los Angeles.
Of course, in the UFC, anything can happen, and plans can be spoiled, no matter how undeniable a fighter can be. Enter Volkanovski, who destroyed Movsar Evloev in the main event of UFC 333 with a second-round knockout. Throughout the build, and in the aftermath, Volkanovski has suggested a fight against Gaethje as a a double-retirement bout with both competitors vacating their titles after the fact.
Moicano not only likes the idea, but he suggests Gaethje push for it as well.
“Personally, I like [it],” Moicano said of Gaethje vs. Volkanovski. “UFC is not about being only the best. It’s not. UFC is about, [and] into selling history behind the fight. A narrative. So I think Volkanovski, the way he beat Mosvar, the way he beat Diego Lopes, and he tried to get this title against Islam the first time and he did very well. He did well. On the second time, if course, he got on short notice and he lost.
“So, imagine now, like a little bit older, but he still [has] what it takes to be a champion and against a guy that is way more favorable than Islam Makhachev. And I think on Justin Gaethje’s side, if you look at that, it’s better to fight Volkanovski than fight Arman. So it makes sense for Volk, it makes sense for Gaethje, and makes sense for the UFC. But it doesn’t make sense if you look at the rankings, and Arman should not be waiting, but who knows?
Should Moicano have the choice, he says he’d rather watch an opportunity at history, even though it would be unfair for Tsarukyan.
“I would rather watch Volk than Arman, to be completely honest,” Moicano said. “UFC does what the fans want to watch, so maybe that could happen.”
