UFC featherweight Renato Moicano has a bone to pick with the latest UFC rankings as he saw no movement coming off the TKO victory over UFC Paris.
If UFC Rankings Aren’t Total Bullshit, I Should Be Ranked #6 in the Lightweight Division Tomorrow. Why? In the last 8 months, I’ve fought 3 times and I’m on a 6-fight win streak in the lightweight division, with 5 stoppages. Yet, ranked above me are:
— Renato Moicano UFC (@moicanoufc) October 1, 2024
“If UFC Rankings Aren’t Total Bullshit, I Should Be Ranked #6 in the Lightweight Division Tomorrow. Why? In the last 8 months, I’ve fought 3 times and I’m on a 6-fight win streak in the lightweight division, with 5 stoppages,” said his tweet.
Moicano (20-5-1) has a point. In his last 6-fights, at lightweight, he holds victories over Jai Herbert, Alexander Hernandez, Brad Riddell, Drew Dober, Jalin Turner, and now Benoit Saint-Denis. Keep in mind the one loss he holds in that time span is one to Rafael dos Anjos that ended up being a 160-pound catchweight.
‘Money’ wasn’t done pleading his case. He went onto criticize the fighters ranked above him.
“#10 Max Holloway: A legend, but he’s a 145 and will be facing Topuria for the featherweight belt at UFC 308. Even if he loses, his spot in the lightweight rankings makes no sense. He just beat Gaethje, so if anything, he should be ranked #3. I’d gladly take #7 if that was case,” he said in the thread.
Holloway is indeed continuing his run at featherweight with the main event title shot coming up against Topuria at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.
“#9 Rafael Fiziev: Coming off 2 losses to Mateusz Gamrot and Justin Gaethje. His last fight was in September 2023. #8 Mateusz Gamrot: Coming off a loss to Dan Hooker in August 2024,” he continued.
“#7 Beneil Dariush: Coming off 2 losses to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. His last fight was in December 2023,” Moicano said about Dariush.
The criticism that makes the most sense if that of Michael Chandler who has not fought since Nov 2022 where he lost via submission to Dustin Poirier.
“#6 Michael Chandler: If anyone doesn’t deserve this spot, it’s Michael Chandler. He’s 2-3 in the UFC, coming off a loss to Dustin Poirier in November 2022. Since then, he’s been sitting out, waiting for Conor McGregor’s return, and only now decided to fight Charles Oliveira,” he said.
Moicano’s case hangs on losses and inactivity. He has fought three times in 2024, none in 2023 due to injury, and three times in 2022.
With the shoulder injury suffered during camp for Saint Denis it’s likely Moicano will be out for while leaving the lightweight division to shuffle around.
Current UFC lightweight rankings:
- (C) Islam Makhachev
- #1 Arman Tsarukyan
- #2 Charles Oliveirsa
- #3 Justin Gaethje
- #4 Dustin Poirier
- #5 Dan Hooker
- #6 Michael Chandler
- #7 Beneil Dariush
- #8 Mateusz Gamrot
- #9 Rafael Fiziev
- #10 Max Holloway
- #11 Renato Moicano
- #12 Benoit Saint Denis
- #13 Rafael dos Anjos
- #14 Jalin Turner
- #15 Paddy Pimblett
