UFC 231 has added an enticing featherweight bout between rising contenders Renato Moicano and Mirsad Bektic.
Combate first reported the addition to UFC 231.
Renato Moicano and Mirsad Bektic were scheduled to fight back in 2015, much earlier in both of their careers, but Moicano was forced out of the bout with an injury. Three years later, and both fighters are in the top 10. Moicano comes into the fight ranked fourth at 145 pounds, and Bektic is ranked eighth.
Mirsad Bektic has been nearly flawless in his MMA career aside from a miraculous comeback by Darren Elkins. The Bosnian was 7-0 with six finishes prior to joining the UFC, then continued his run with four wins in the Octagon, finishing the latter two. Following the Elkins loss, Bektic has rebounded with a TKO victory over Godofredo Pepey and a split decision victory against Ricardo Lamas.
Renato Moicano also came into the promotion with an undefeated record, his standing at 8-0-1 with four submissions. Following a second-round submission in his promotional debut, the Brazilian scored a pair of split decision victories, including one over longtime veteran Jeremy Stephens. Moicano suffered his first career loss in a wild back-and-forth fight with top contender Brian Ortega, losing by third-round submission in a Fight of the Night recipient. Since then, Moicano defeated Calvin Kattar and jumped into the top five with a first-round submission against Cub Swanson.
UFC 231 is headlined by a pair of title fights. Max Holloway will be defending his featherweight title against Brian Ortega in the main event, and the vacant women’s flyweight title will be fought for by Valentina Shevchenko and Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Perhaps the next top contender for the latter will be determined in a fight between Katlyn Chookagian and Jessica Eye. The event takes place on December 8 inside the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
