The UFC has a storied history with Brazil, boasting many legends of the sport such as Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, Amanda Nunes, and Royce Gracie, among others, hailing from the nation. The current UFC roster also features a plethora of talents from Brazil, with many of them contending in their respective divisions.
UFC 301, the promotion’s first event in Brazil in 2024, announced its first title fight: a flyweight title bout between Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg. Renato Moicano, the UFC lightweight, offered an interesting perspective on the upcoming PPV.
Renato Moicano talks in depth on UFC 301 bout
Renato Moicano delved into UFC 301 on his YouTube channel, Money Moicano, expressing his thoughts on the upcoming event. Moicano observed that the card appeared to lack the star power typically associated with a standard UFC PPV, especially following the stacked lineups of UFC 298 and UFC 299, and with UFC 300 on the horizon promising even greater depth.
Moicano attributed UFC 301’s perceived shortcomings to the relatively low revenue generated by the promotion in Brazil. He remarked, “Brazil is not generating money on PPVs,” pointing to the challenging financial circumstances faced by Brazilians as the underlying cause.
“People don’t have the money to buy PPVs,” Moicano emphasized, highlighting the financial constraints faced by many Brazilians. He explained that even with a stacked card, the investment in purchasing a PPV event in Brazil may not be justified due to the lower PPV rates compared to those in the USA.
Despite this economic disparity, Moicano acknowledged the passion for the sport among Brazilian fight fans, who would eagerly anticipate stacked UFC cards. However, he noted that the UFC’s business structure, as reported by the Washington Examiner, would not allow it.
Details on UFC 301 main card
Renato Moicano, on his YouTube channel, provided an in-depth analysis of the UFC 301 main card. Moicano was all praise for Alexandre Pantoja, who he saw as a problem in the UFC’s flyweight division. Even though Steve Erceg has a dangerous striking game, Moicano believes that Pantoja will easily defend his title at UFC 301
The fight between Michel Pereira and Makhmud Muradov did not make any sense for Moicano, who found it strange to see Periera fight an unranked Muradov. Moreover, Moicano even predicted an easy victory for Caio Borralho against Paul Craig. Furthermore, Moicano is skeptical of Anthony Smith’s chances against Vitor Petrino.
#UFC301 confirmed fights 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/FqMLp3tAsZ
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) March 16, 2024
Moicano expressed particular interest in the lightweight bout between Drakkar Klose and Joaquim Silva, predicting it to be the Fight of the Night. However, he found the women’s strawweight fight between Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Iasmin Lucindo puzzling, despite Kowalkiewicz’s past as a title challenger.
While Moicano didn’t find the main card appealing, he anticipated excitement from the prelims. Fighters like Jean Silva, Elves Brener, Myktybek Orolbai, and Alessandro Costa are set to compete in the prelims of UFC 301, and Moicano expects them to deliver an action-packed show.
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