Renato Moicano

Renato Alves Carneiro (born May 21, 1989), better known as Renato Moicano, is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Lightweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional MMA competitor since 2010, Moicano made a name for himself fighting all over his home country of Brazil, and is the former interim Jungle Fight Featherweight Champion. As of April 16, 2024, he is #10 in the UFC lightweight rankings.

Background
Coming from a well-off family, Carneiro started training judo at the age of eight. He attended university in order to become a lawyer, but dropped out after two years to pursue a career in mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career
After an undefeated professional record in eight fights, Moicano faced Ismael Bonfim for the interim Jungle Fight Featherweight Championship. He won the fight via rear naked choke submission in the first round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
On December 12, 2014, it was announced that Moicano signed with the UFC, and was scheduled to replace Rony Jason against Tom Niinimäki on 10 days notice at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway. He won the fight via rear naked choke submission in the second round.

Moicano later was scheduled to fight Mirsad Bektic on May 30, 2015, at UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves, but he was pulled from the bout due to injury and replaced by Lucas Martins.

On March 14, 2016, it was announced that Moicano would face Zubaira Tukhugov at UFC 198. for his second UFC appearance. He was the underdog to the fight but won via split decision.

Moicano was expected to face Mike De La Torre on September 24, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 95, but was forced to pull out with injury and was replaced on short notice by Godofredo Pepey.

For his third fight, Moicano faced Jeremy Stephens on April 15, 2017, at UFC on Fox 24. He won the fight by split decision.

Moicano faced Brian Ortega on July 29, 2017, at UFC 214. He lost the fight via guillotine choke submission in the third round. This fight earned Fight of the Night bonus. After the fight with Ortega, Moicano moved from Brazil to United States in order to train at the American Top Team.

Moicano faced Calvin Kattar on April 7, 2018, at UFC 223. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Moicano faced Cub Swanson on August 4, 2018, at UFC 227. He won the fight via a rear naked choke submission. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Moicano was scheduled to face Mirsad Bektic on December 8, 2018, at UFC 231; however, it was reported on 15 November 2018 that Bektic was forced to pull out of the bout due to an undisclosed injury and the bout was cancelled.

Moicano faced José Aldo on February 2, 2019, in the co-main event at UFC Fight Night 144. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Moicano faced Chan Sung Jung on June 22, 2019, in the main event at UFC on ESPN+ 12. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

Moicano faced Damir Hadžović in a lightweight bout on March 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 170. He won the fight via a rear naked choke submission in round one.

Moicano was scheduled to face Magomed Mustafaev on October 18, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 180. However, Moicano pulled out of the fight in mid-September for undisclosed reasons. Two weeks later, it was reported that Moicano was scheduled to face Rafael Fiziev on November 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark. In turn, Moicano pulled out on November 28 after testing positive for COVID-19 and the bout was rescheduled for UFC 256. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

Moicano faced Jai Herbert on June 26, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 190. He won the fight via a rear naked choke in round two.

Moicano faced Alexander Hernandez on February 12, 2022, at UFC 271. He won the bout via rear naked choke in the second round.

Moicano was tabbed as a short notice replacement for Rafael Fiziev and faced Rafael dos Anjos on March 5, 2022, at UFC 272. The bout was contested at a catchweight of 160 pounds. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Moicano faced Brad Riddell on November 12, 2022, at UFC 281. He won the bout via a rear naked choke in the first round.

Moicano was scheduled to face Arman Tsarukyan on April 29, 2023, at UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón. However, Moicano withdrew due to an injury.

Moicano faced Drew Dober on February 3, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 235. Despite having his face cut open in the second round, Moicano had a significant amount of top-position control time which helped him win the bout by unanimous decision.

Moicano faced Jalin Turner on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300. After being knocked down at the end of the first round, Moicano rallied back and won the bout by technical knockout as a result of ground-and-pound.

Moicano is scheduled to face Benoît Saint Denis on September 28, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 245.

Professional grappling career
Moicano defeated Chase Hooper via unanimous decision at Fury Pro Grappling 3 on December 30, 2021.

Moicano faced Cristian Guzman in the co-main event of UFC Fight Pass Invitational 7 on May 15, 2024. He won the match on points.

Personal life
Moicano and his wife have a son (born 2020).

Mixed martial arts

 * Jungle Fight
 * Interim Jungle Fight Featherweight Championship (One time)
 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Brian Ortega
 * Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Cub Swanson
 * Tied (Charles Oliveira & Brendan Allen) for third most rear-naked submissions in UFC history (6)
 * ESPN
 * 2022 Best On-The-Mic moment of the Year at UFC 281