World In Sport previews an exciting UFC bout this weekend.
Renato Moicano and Benoit Saint Denis headline UFC Fight Night 243. On 28th September 2024, the Accor Arena in Paris will host this lightweight matchup. Saint-Denis is on the comeback trail after defeat to Dustin Poirier at UFC 299. At the same time, Moicano looks to solidify his recent resurgence in form.
Renato Moicano vs Benoit Saint-Denis: Background & Fighter Records
Let’s consider the fighter’s backstories, career record, and last 5 UFC battles. We highlight the form book to see where the fight could be won or lost.
Renato Moicano
Renato “Moicano” Carneiro, 35, is based in Coconut Creek, Florida, and trains at the American Top Team gym. Moicano is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Muay Thai.
The Brazilian sports a solid résumé. A former interim featherweight championship in the Jungle Fight promotion. He boasts six rear-naked choke finishes in the UFC.
Moicano has fought 25 mixed martial arts fights (16 in the UFC). As the number 11 ranked UFC lightweight contender, his UFC career record reads 11 wins and five losses. He is riding a career resurgence with 5 wins from his previous six bouts. Let’s check out the five most recent of those:
13 April 2024 Win by TKO vs Jalin Turner
03 February 2024 Win by Decision vs Drew Dober
13 November 2022 Win by Submission vs Brad Riddell
05 March 2022 Loss by Decision vs Rafael dos Anjos
12 February 2022 Win by Submission vs Alexander Hernandez
Benoit Saint-Denis
28-year-old Frenchman Benoit “God of War” Saint-Denis is the number 12 lightweight in the world. He holds a brown belt in BJJ and a black belt in judo.
He was known for his high-octane attacking style, which included powerful strikes and solid grappling. His sole UFC defeat came in a second-round TKO to Dustin Poirier. That step-up to the top-five competition proved a bridge too far at this stage of his career.
Before this first loss, Saint-Denis earned a Performance of the Night in crushing Matt Frevola at UFC 295. A highlight reel head kick KO sealed the deal. Back in 2023, he also secured a Fight of the Night award in a ruthless stoppage of Thiago Moses.
His overall mixed martial arts career spans 16 battles with 13 wins, 2 losses, and 1 no-contest. But as a relative UFC novice with 5 wins and 2 defeats so far, the 5 most recent are:
09 March 2024 Loss by KO vs Dustin Poirier
11 November 2023 Win by KO vs Matt Frevola
02 September 2023 Win by TKO vs Thiago Moses
01 July 2023 Win by Submission vs Ismael Bonfim
03 September 2022 Win by TKO vs Gabriel Miranda
Physical Attributes
These lightweight contenders have similar physical dimensions. Both men measure 5”11 in height. Saint-Denis fights out of a southpaw stance with 73 inches reach. Compared to Moicano’s 72-inch wingspan in the orthodox stance.
Keys To Victory
Which fighter can impose his strategy and secure a massive win?
Moicano – Possible Tactics
Moicano will look to take the action to the ground to negate Saint Denis’ striking game. Yet his opponent is also a competent wrestler. So, it will be intriguing to see who gains the upper hand in those clinches.
He should balance his attack. A mix of hard leg strikes and straight punches could test Saint Denis’ mettle for any lingering effects of the Poirier defeat.
Saint-Denis – Path to Glory
As the more agile and explosive fighter, Saint-Denis needs to take the centre of the Octagon. They try to force a high pace with accurate strikes while being mindful of defense and counters coming back.
He knows that despite winning, Moicano has struggled against strikes in his two latest fights. This is a key weakness in Brazil’s defences.
Renato Moicano vs Benoit Saint Denis Prediction
These two fighters look to gatecrash the UFC top 10 and vie for a possible future title shot. Despite the unbalanced odds, this about is tough to predict.
Saint-Denis is the bookmaker’s favourite to win at general odds of 4/11 (1.36 decimal odds, -275 American odds, 73.3 probability). Against his opponent at 23/10 to snatch the victory (3.3 or 230, 30.3 probability).
The Poirier loss in 2024 was competitive, and there was no shame in losing to “The Diamond”. He is a worthy favourite as long as this hasn’t dented Saint Denis’ confidence. At the same time, Moicano carries a renewed confidence into the cage.
Saint-Denis must be alert to Moicano’s dangerous submission skills. But we see the younger and fresher fighter using superior strength to control the action. Expect him to prevail over five pulsating rounds.
