What was the biggest moment of UFC 300? Most of you would think that it was Max Holloway‘s buzzer-beater KO of Justin Gaethje. This was the former featherweight champion’s first successful outing in the UFC lightweight division. Now, he has the entire world looking to see how far he will go at 155. But did you know he was not the only featherweight-turned-lightweight who made a statement that night?

Top 15 lightweight Renato Moicano also made a statement win after coming back from the cusp of defeat. He finished Jalin Turner to go 6-1 in the lightweight division and three-straight wins in a row. But the jestful Brazilian has seen his share of tough knocks in the UFC. Here’s a look at all the hurdles ‘Money’ has had to face to reach the upper echelons of the UFC’s lightweight division!

Who has Renato Moicano lost to?

16 fights in 10 years across two divisions with an 11-5 record; Renato Moicano has surely earned his spot the hard way. He debuted as a featherweight back in 2014 with an undefeated 7-0-1 record. ‘Money’ had all the makings of a hyped prospect and lived up to his name with three straight on the trot.

But all that came to a screeching halt at UFC 214. Two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega ended Moicano’s dream run with a third-round guillotine. His first MMA loss was a hard one for Renato Moicano. The 35-year-old took nearly a year to come back from this setback but put two wins together in 2018, over Calvin Kattar and Cub Swanson, finishing the latter via submission in the first round.

But guess who was waiting to derail Moicano’s momentum this time? Legendary two-time former featherweight champion Jose Aldo! In February 2019 Aldo KO’d Moicano early in the second round.

In June 2019, he lost to another title challenger, Chan Sung Jung aka The Korean Zombie. He knocked out Renato Moicano inside the opening round, putting an end to the Brazilian’s featherweight run.

His next couple of losses came at lightweight against Rafael Fiziev (TKO) and former lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos (decision) at UFC 256 and UFC 272, respectively. Moicano, to date, has lost five fights in his UFC career, but there is no doubt regarding his skill level. Four of his five UFC losses were to former champions or title challengers. How does this stat bode for his next challenge?

Renato Moicano’s UFC record and streak

Renato Moicano’s recent run in the UFC lightweight division has been nothing short of a masterpiece. With a four-fight winning streak, Moicano is turning doubters into believers and casual fans into avid supporters. But what’s behind this meteoric rise?

His streak began with a flawless finish at UFC 281, where he locked in a submission that left Brad Riddell no choice but to tap. It was a message to the division: Moicano wasn’t just here to compete—he was here to conquer. Then came Drew Dober, known for his durability, but even he couldn’t keep Moicano at bay. Over three grueling rounds, Moicano showcased his striking, grappling, and cage control, earning a unanimous decision victory.

Jalin Turner was next, but he fared no better. Moicano unleashed a storm of elbows and punches at UFC 300, finishing Turner in the second round. Most recently, Moicano added another highlight to his reel by dismantling Benoît Saint-Denis in Paris. The doctor had to intervene, unable to ignore the damage Moicano had inflicted. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement.

At UFC 311, Moicano faces arguably his toughest test yet: Beneil Dariush. Despite their mutual respect, Moicano has no plans to take it easy. “He’s got good jiu-jitsu. He’s in a tough position with two losses, and I will make sure he ends up in a worse position now because I will beat him; it doesn’t matter if he’s good or bad. I can’t afford to lose.” he boldly proclaimed during media day. But behind the banter is a fighter on a mission to extend his streak to five. Will he succeed? Or will Dariush halt his momentum? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!