The City of Light dimmed a bit for French MMA fans last night. UFC Paris delivered an unexpected twist in its main event. Hometown hero Benoit Saint-Denis faced off against Brazilian veteran Renato Moicano. The fight ended prematurely, leaving the crowd stunned and disappointed. The fight was called off after doctors assessed ‘God Of War’ and ruled him unfit to continue.
Saint-Denis came into this bout with high hopes. He had been on a tear, racking up impressive wins in the lightweight division. The former French special forces operative had the home crowd behind him. But, since MMA is an unforgiving sport, things didn’t go as planned. But Benoit Saint-Denis isn’t one to give up.
It was not my day, this sport is hard but incredible. Thank you all for your unwavering support. Proud to have been able to represent France in the octagon at home. Respect to my opponent for facing me at home, and congratulations to him, @renato_moicano_ufc. God puts trials on our path, and this one is nothing compared to what I have experienced,” wrote Saint-Denis via Instagram (translated from French).
Moicano, living up to his “Money” nickname, cashed in early. He dragged Saint-Denis to the ground in the first round. What followed was a barrage of elbows and punches that changed Benoit Saint-Denis’ facial structure. By the second round, the Frenchman’s eyes were swollen and shut.
Even in defeat, ‘God Of War’ thanked his supporters and even tipped his hat to Moicano. Benoit Saint-Denis will likely be out of action until early 2025. But one thing is sure: He will recover and come back stronger.
Renato Moicano Invites Benoit Saint-Denis To Train With Him
Moicano is one of those fighters who loves to scrap but does not hold it over his opponent’s head. This was evident in his latest fight against Saint-Denis. The Brazilian fighter showed respect to the Frenchman and even invited him to train with him for his next fight.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
Moicano believed that he could help Benoit Saint-Denis improve his game. And this is not a one-off case either. Sean Strickland trained with Alex Pereira after the latter knocked him out.
“I invite Benoit Saint-Denis to my gym to train with us, and I guarantee he’s going to be another fighter; he needs to get out of his comfort zone in my opinion but he’s a great fighter,” said Moicano at the post-fight press conference.
In the meantime, the ‘God of War’ remains undeterred. Benoit Saint-Denis vows to return stronger, ready to reclaim his spot in the lightweight rankings. The once highly touted prospect is yearning to reclaim his hype and standing in the lightweight division.
Also Read: Renato Moicano Suffers Shocking Injury Midway Through Dominant Performance At UFC Paris
