Latest news with #Dariush
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Renato Moicano calls out 'oldest guy in the division' Michael Chandler after UFC 317 loss
Renato Moicano was honest in his assessment of where he stands after UFC 317. Moicano (20-7-1 MMA, 12-7 UFC) lost a unanimous decision to Beneil Dariush (23-6-1 MMA, 17-6-1 UFC) last month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, marking his second-straight setback. The 36-year-old wants another aging lightweight, and thinks it's the perfect timing for him to be matched up with the skidding Michael Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC), who dropped his third-straight fight against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314. "To be completely honest with you, the oldest guy in the division (is who I should fight)," Moicano said on his "Show Me The Money" podcast. "Not Dariush – Michael Chandler. I think that fight makes a lot of sense. There is not a better time for the fight. I have been talking sh*t to Chandler for so long, and if I lose to him, brother, I will have to kill myself." Moicano found early success when he knocked down Dariush at the end of Round 1 and almost finished him. However, Dariush was able to rally by using his grappling and outlast the fading Moicano. "I thought he was done," Moicano said of Dariush after Round 1. "Because I remember exactly the way Charles (Oliveira) put him out. It was kind of the same because he was backing up on the cage, then I hit him. But unfortunately, every time that I did that, I tried to go to the neck because I always get the rear-naked choke, but Dariush was surviving very well. "He was not giving the back. He was scrambling, and he is very good at scramble and jiu-jitsu. I should have kept striking or even let him get up. I was way quicker than him, I had the speed advantage, but at the same time I was f*cking smoking cigarettes the whole time, bro. No I didn't, but it was looking like I did. Brother, I was so f*cking tired, I cannot believe myself."
USA Today
30-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Renato Moicano knows what he needs to work on after UFC 317 loss to Beneil Dariush
Renato Moicano was honest when assessing his UFC 317 loss. After dropping Beneil Dariush (23-6-1 MMA, 17-6-1 UFC) at the end of Round 1, Moicano (20-7-1 MMA, 12-7 UFC) was outgrappled in a unanimous decision loss on Saturday's main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Moicano now has lost back-to-back fights against former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and Dariush – which has him eager to improve a certain aspect of his game. "What's up, everybody? Thank you so much for the support," Moicano said after the loss (h/t Home of Fight). "Tonight was not my night. I got a little bit tired, but Dariush executed a very good game plan in the second round. He took me down. I need to get way better on the takedown defense. But it is what it is. "I have to get back to the gym training. I know it's all bullsh*t, everything that I will say. Like, 'F*ck.' Nobody f*cking cares, but I am just trying to say that I am healthy, I'm good, and thank you for the support. I need to get back, I need to get better, and I will." Prior to his two-fight losing skid, Moicano had won four fights in a row – including battering and finishing Benoit Saint Denis in the UFC Fight Night 243 main event last September.
USA Today
29-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Beneil Dariush exits UFC 317 with victory but mixed emotions: 'I'm frustrated'
LAS VEGAS – Beneil Dariush was still processing his UFC 317 win over Renato Moicano as he spoke to reporters backstage at T-Mobile Arena. Admittedly, he struggled to put into words the mix of emotions he felt after his unanimous decision victory. "I'm feeling fine," Dariush told MMA Junkie and other reporters. "I'm frustrated. I've already said I'm frustrated, so I'll try to stop saying it. I feel fine. I just keep replaying that first round in my head and it just makes me more angry." The fight was Dariush's first since December 2023. It had been 18 months between fights. Dariush (23-6-1 MMA, 17-6-1 UFC) avoided an early scare from Moicano (20-7-1 MMA, 12-7 UFC) and rallied to win Round 2 and 3. Despite getting the nod from all three judges, Dariush couldn't shake the memory of nearly being put away in the opening five minutes. "It's good to have that dog in you, like they say," Dariush said. "... I just felt like in the first round I was landing leg kicks. I was landing high kicks. My hands were somewhat landing, and then I get dropped, so it's frustrating. Then in Round 2, to be honest, the game plan was to shoot. I was supposed to take him down in the first round. It's frustrating because you don't follow the game plan that you set. You lose the round because of it. Then, you go to Round 2 and you're just so mad you're not thinking about game plans any more. You're just thinking about finding ways to win. The more I played it over in my head, it's better if I internalize it than I try externalize it, because it just doesn't sound good when I speak." Dariush said regardless of the outcomes of his fights, he tries to compartmentalize the results and put them in perspective in the bigger scheme of his life and faith. But fighting does motivate him greatly. At 36, he's still gunning for championship gold. Saturday's win snapped a two fight skid, and steered his momentum around. "I know I'm old, but man this felt like my first fight. I felt like there's so much to learn," Dariush said. "It felt good to be the last old man standing. But I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon. ... You could be doing this forever. But if your heart is not in it and you're not focused and you don't have a desire to be a champion, leave. I have a desire to be champion. I would not be here just to fight just for another fight. If it was just for money, I wouldn't be here. It's to be champion. God put a desire in me, and that's what I want."
USA Today
29-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC 317 results: Beneil Dariush bounces back from early scare to defeat Renato Moicano
Beneil Dariush overcame an early scare to get back into the win column after a lengthy absence. On the main card of UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Dariush (23-6-1 MMA, 17-6-1 UFC) returned to the cage for the first time since December 2023 to face Renato Moicano. Although Moicano (20-7-1 MMA, 12-7 UFC) succeeded in the opening round, the judges' scorecards were unanimous (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in favor of Dariush after 15 minutes of action. Dariush set the tone, keeping Moicano at a distance while causing damage with several hard low kicks. Moicano remained patient while applying forward pressure and hunting for openings. Late in Round 1, Moicano connected with a beautiful straight right hand that dropped Dariush. Moicano swarmed for the finish, but Dariush recovered well enough to survive the round. Early in Round 2, Dariush clipped Moicano with a clean punch, prompting a wrestling scramble. Dariush ended up controlling the positions along the fence, resulting in a takedown. While racking up top control time, Dariush worked for a submission and ended the frame with ground and pound. With the fight seemingly up for grabs, Dariush came out quickly looking to get the fight back to the ground. Moicano was able to reverse and scramble back to his feet, but Dariush continued to have success striking. Keeping Moicano busy, Dariush continued to threaten takedowns to stay in control until the final horn. With the win, Dariush returns to the win column following back-to-back losses to former champ Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan in 2023. Moicano now finds himself on a two-fight skid, as he entered an a super short notice title opportunity against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January. Up-to-the-minute UFC 317 results
USA Today
28-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano prediction, pick, start time for UFC 317
Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano meet Saturday on the main card of UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 5-1 UFC main cards, 2025: 62-45-1 Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano UFC 317 preview Dariush (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) will look to get back on track after dropping back-to-back fights. Dariush was finished in the first round in consecutive fights by Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. Prior to those setbacks, Dariush won eight fights in a row, in what was one of the most impressive winning streaks in the division. ... Moicano (20-6-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) will also look to return to the win column after coming up short in a last-minute title opportunity against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January. Moicano was originally scheduled to face Dariush at the event, but was elevated to the main event when Tsarukyan pulled out during fight week. Prior to the title challenge loss, Moicano won four straight. Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano UFC 317 expert pick, prediction In the current day UFC, we're basically guaranteed a rematch, re-shuffling or outright re-booking on every card. This Saturday, we get all three, starting with a rebooked fight that was initially set to go down back at UFC 311 before that card was hit with a last-minute shuffling that stemmed from a rematch fallout. If this is all starting to sound way too repetitive, then perhaps you can understand my frustration when it comes to the current state of UFC matchmaking and card formatting alike – but I digress. In fact, this lightweight matchup between Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano should provide its fair share of violence for as long as it lasts. Moicano may technically stand positive against southpaws at 3-2, but left-sided strikes from Dariush will probably be potent early when looking at how these two stack up. And though I'd also give a slight edge to Moicano's opportunistic submissions, Dariush is an excellent grappler who is also likely the better wrestler. If this fight were a few years ago, then this would be an easy pick for Dariush in my book. But with Dariush's chin matching the status of his hair more and more these days, I'm not sure I can rely on him to not get stung by something – even from people who aren't knockout punchers. I'll semi-reluctantly side with the momentum and improvements Moicano showed before his last short-notice loss, showing why he made my Top 10 rear-naked choke artists in UFC history by securing a club-and-sub on a diminished Dariush in Round 2. Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano UFC 317 odds The oddsmakers and the public are slightly favoring the Brazilian fighter, listing Moicano -122 and Dariush -104 via FanDuel. Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano UFC 317 start time, how to watch Dariush and Moicano are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 10:40 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
