Renato Moicano is not happy fighting at UFC Vegas 85, even if his bout against Drew Dober serves as the co-main event of the evening.
The March 3 card will be headlined by a middleweight scrap between Roman Dolidze and Nassourdine Imavov. To be honest, Moicano doesn’t know much about both fighters and the fact, that the event takes place at UFC APEX in Las Vegas doesn’t help either. During his recent interview with Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour, Moicano said:
“I’m sorry, I don’t have nothing against these guys, but I don’t even know their names. I’m not saying I should be the main event, but that should not be the main event for sure. Whatever. It’s a Fight Night, nobody cares. Main event, co-main event, nobody cares.”
The Brazilian fighter would prefer to fight in the bigger venue, which is understandable as his last bout took place in Madison Square Garden at UFC 281 in front of more than 20, 000 fans in attendance. That’s why he hoped to get booked at the UFC 299, which takes place in Miami, which would be perfect for him as he trains at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.
“It’s good to be in the co-main event in a Fight Night, but I’d rather be the first fight of UFC 299. UFC 299 is awesome. It is what it is. Some fighters the UFC just put to have somebody fighting, to have on ESPN, so they have to keep the thing going. But if you’re asking me if Dolidze, and I don’t even know his name, if they are main event worthy, I would say not. Maybe they are good fighters, I don’t know. But it’s a Fight Night, nobody cares.”
After submitting Brad Riddell with a Rear-naked the Brazilian picked a new “Money Moicano” in his post-fight interview at UFC 281. He plans to build his image on that by facing top opposition, and that includes Dober. In his mind, this upcoming bout is a PPV caliber affair.
“That’s a pay-per-view. It does not get better than this. Me and Drew Dober, we are guys that the mainstream public knows. If you talk to the regular fan, Conor McGregor all of these names, Renato Moicano and Drew Dober, we are not on the same level. But at the same time, if you ask a really hardcore fan, they’re going to know our careers. They’re going to know who we fought. They’re going to know that’s going to be a great fight. That’s why I think they put it as co-main event on like that but again, nobody cares. I would rather fight on the pay-per-view like Miami. At the same time, it’s OK, I want to go watch the fights in Miami.”
Now Moicano is mainly focused on getting paid and the matter of rankings, and placement on the card goes back to the second plan.
“That’s a chance to make money. Because ‘Money’ Moicano doesn’t give a s*** about people. I don’t. If you are my fan, if you support, if you buy my stuff like a lot of people buy my stuff and I’m being grateful for that but at the end of the day, do you know what pays my bills? Going out there and beating motherf****** and finishing motherf******. That’s what pays my bills and I have to say, I make good money for that… So I’m just worried [about] finishing Drew Dober. That’s my only worry. I don’t care. If the fans like you, that’s OK. Of course, everybody loves to be loved but if they don’t like [me], at least I have double checks to be happy about. The only thing I am really thinking about is double checks, make some money.”
