Returning to the Octagon on his home turf, lightweight finisher Benoit Saint-Denis looked to climb back into the win column in the UFC Paris headliner on Saturday.
Standing in his was surging contender Renato Moicano—a streaking Brazilian fan-favorite determined to make it four wins in a row against the ‘God of War’ and inch himself closer to a spot in the 155-pound division’s coveted top 10.
Round 1
Moicano opens up with a leg kick and Saint-Denis fires back with a kick to the body. Saint-Denis offers up another one, but Moicano catches it and promptly takes the ‘God of War’ down to the mat. Saint-Denis looks to use his butterfly guard to get back up, but Moicano gets into half guard and maintains control on top. Moicano gets kicked off once again, but as Saint-Denis scrambles, he gives up his back. Moicano pounces, slapping on a body triangle. Saint-Denis turns and Moicano flows with him, getting into mount.
While on top, Moicano lands some vicious ground and pound and busts Saint-Denis busts open just before the halfway point of the round. Saint-Denis gets Moicano back into his half-guard, but ‘Money’ is still dropping strikes and elbows, further bloodying and battering the hometown hero. Saint-Denis once again gives up his back while scrambling. Thinking twice about it, Saint-Denis rolls back to his back but eats a few more nasty shots from the Brazilian as the round ends.
Walking to his corner, Saint-Denis is already sporting multiple cuts over his right eye and a terribly swollen left eye.
Round 2
Moicano stands and trades with Saint-Denis in the opening moments of the second round. Nearly a minute in, Moicano teases a takedown attempt but quickly backs away. Saint-Denis throws a high kick that’s blocked. Moicano is looking calm, not forcing anything, and opting to counterstrike. Saint-Denis is in hot pursuit, but has been a little hesitant to pull the trigger—perhaps afraid to end up on his back again.
Saint-Denis lands a nice right hand and Moicano responds by shooting in for a takedown. Saint-Denis defends the attempt and forces Moicano to retreat. Moicano closes the distance and clinches up against the fence. Saint-Denis reverses and breaks away. Saint-Denis throws a head kick with 10 seconds to go in the round. Moicano blocks and fires back with a front kick to the body just before the horn.
Following the second round, referee Marc Goddard called in the cageside physician to take a look at Saint-Denis’ eye. Indicating he was unable to see, the fall was called off, and ‘Money’ Moicano was declared the victor via technical knockout.
Official Result: Renato Moicano def. Benoit Saint-Denis via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 2.
Check Out Highlights From Renato Moicano vs. Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC Paris:
🇧🇷 Renato Moicano
entering the Octagon #UFC #UFCParis @UFC #Paris pic.twitter.com/KcbyRFyY8F— Thomas Peters (@thomasopeters) September 28, 2024
🇫🇷 Benoit Saint Denis
entering the Octagon #UFC #UFCParis @UFC #Paris pic.twitter.com/GLWHuALMBG— Thomas Peters (@thomasopeters) September 28, 2024
🇫🇷Benoit Saint Denis v. Renato Moicano🇧🇷
Face Off #UFC #UFCParis @UFC #Paris #France pic.twitter.com/W4bSb7XSfF— Thomas Peters (@thomasopeters) September 28, 2024
UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis September 28, 2024 Accor Arena, Paris, France. Main Event .
Renato Moicano vs Benoît Saint Denis
BENOIT’s CORNER AFTER 1
EYES LOOK COMPLETELY COOKED !? pic.twitter.com/D6cpfeJVyr
— Just zipped a bong hit with my bear Ted (@stonedagainbros) September 28, 2024
The main event gets stopped, rightfully so. Renato Moicano beats Benoît Saint-Denis in Paris#UFCParis pic.twitter.com/HCK2d8Bqqa
— Fight 4 Yours (@fight_4_yours) September 28, 2024
My god. Renato Moicano just ran over Benoit Saint Denis in his home country.
No answer for Moicano’s grappling after he got the takedown in R1. Both eyes swollen, right eye shut. He would’ve been too tough for his own good. Right doctor stoppage #ufcparis pic.twitter.com/dYpEPA9XVS
— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) September 28, 2024
⚔️ Renato Moicano via TKO. Doctor didn't let BSD to continue. pic.twitter.com/zlSzr9Vs7F
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) September 28, 2024
