Another big fight is headed to Las Vegas as part of UFC 326 this March, and this time it’s in the lightweight division.
In a bout announced by the promotion on Saturday, Renato Moicano (20-7-1) is set to take on Brian Ortega (16-5, 1NC) for the second time.
Journalist Léo Walker Guimaraes had previously reported the pairing. The card takes place on March 7, 2026 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The pair first met in 2017 ten pounds down at featherweight, when Ortega submitted Moicano with a guillotine choke as part of UFC 214. It was Moicano’s first loss as a professional.
Since then, Moicano has gone on to fight for lightweight gold, albeit as a short-notice replacement. Following that bout, which saw him submitted by then-champ Islam Makhachev, the Brazilian dropped a follow-up against Beneil Dariush.
As for Ortega, the former featherweight title challenger has struggled with injuries, his weight (forcing the move to 155lbs), and has lost his last two fights against Aljamain Sterling and Diego Lopes.
While Ortega is unranked in the lightweight division, Renato Moicano sits at #10.
UFC 326 is headlined by a “BMF” title fight, as Max Holloway puts his belt on the line against former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. The following match-ups have been reported/announced for the March card, which will air on Paramount+ in the U.S.:
- Max Holloway (c) vs. Charles Oliveira — For the symbolic UFC “BMF” championship
- Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder
- Renato Moicano vs. Brian Ortega
- Paulo Costa vs. Brunno Ferreira
- Cody Garbrandt vs. Xiao Long
- Rafael Tobias vs. Diyar Nurgozhay
- Cody Durden vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
