Brian Ortega Withdraws from Renato Moicano Rematch Again After Eyebrow Injury
Sad news for MMA fans as Brian Ortega has once again pulled out of his rematch with Renato Moicano just 5 days before UFC 331.
Fans believed UFC 331, set for Sept. 19, might finally offer a conclusion to Brian Ortega and Renato Moicano's nine-year saga. However, 'T-City's latest injury updates have once again dashed those hopes.
Brian Ortega Out of Anticipated UFC 331 Bout
Speculation surrounding the lightweight's injury mounted after Christian rapper Lecrae's video post showed Ortega with a bandage on his right eyebrow. Apparently, the American grappler has confirmed those rumours soon after the promotion announced T-City's withdrawal from his Saturday fight.
The former featherweight suffered a brutal gash on his right eyebrow while training, requiring stitches. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Ortega shared pictures of his lacerated eyebrow alongside videos from the aftermath of that injury.
"This one hurts," wrote T-City.
This isn't a one-off, however. Injuries have repeatedly disrupted the BJJ maestro's momentum, with a harrowing right shoulder dislocation against Yair Rodriguez in 2022 forcing him into an 18-month sabbatical. Weight-cutting struggles have also followed Ortega. More recently, T-City pulled out of a scheduled rematch with Renato Moicano at UFC 326 because of nagging injuries.
While this withdrawal has definitely let down multiple MMA fans, Ortega has promised to return to the Octagon soon. "My next fight is in soon, so I’m getting right back to training," he wrote before hinting at a possible return at UFC 334 in November.
Renato Moicano Replacement Bout Scheduled
The promotion acted swiftly after Brian Ortega's abrupt withdrawal. Now, Tom Nolan has replaced T-City for a showdown against 'Money'. The pair are set to headline UFC Vegas 123 on October 31 instead of a numbered UFC event.
Nolan is ranked No. 11 in the UFC Meta rankings, while Moicano flaunts the 8th position. Still, the Australian has been on a phenomenal UFC run since his debut in 2024. Currently riding a 5-fight win streak, Nolan only has one loss to his name.
Moicano, on the other hand, is definitely the more experienced fighter. However, losses to Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush last year have definitely tainted his UFC record recently. Moicano will now look to punctuate Nolan's rhythm inside the cage to cement his position among the division's elite.
🚨 Renato Moicano will now fight Tom Nolan in the main event of #UFCVegas123 on October 31
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 14, 2026
(via @ufc) https://t.co/SUz5B0yFq5 pic.twitter.com/tCi0SzYmFO
