Renato Moicano wants to settle an old score with Brian Ortega. After his recent win, the featherweight told fans he is ready for a rematch with the man who handed him his first career loss.
The call for a rematch
Moicano spoke on the UFC Fight Night 272 post-fight show after beating Chris Duncan. He said he still has bad blood with Brian Ortega and wants a second fight to even things up. Moicano said Ortega ran the first time and that he was winning before Ortega finished him. He made it clear he wants a rematch and to right that old wrong.
What happened in 2017
Moicano suffered his first ever professional loss to Ortega in 2017. Ortega won by guillotine choke submission. At the time, Moicano had been 12 fights unbeaten and had three wins in the UFC. Ortega was a rising, undefeated star and the win extended his record to 14-0 with one no contest.
How both fighters have fared since
Both men have followed different paths since that night in 2017. Moicano has had more fights and more wins in recent years. The article notes Moicano has gone 10-6 since the loss and he also had an unsuccessful title shot last year. Over the past seven years, Moicano has recorded seven victories.
Ortega has struggled with inactivity and mixed results. The piece reports Ortega has gone 4-5 since 2017, including two failed title challenges. Due in part to long layoffs, Ortega has only two wins in the last seven years.
Rankings and the chance of the fight
Moicano is currently ranked No. 10 in the UFC featherweight division. He sits just one place above Brian Ortega, making a rematch a realistic possibility on the rankings and matchup front. With both fighters still in the mix in featherweight, fans may see this rivalry renewed if schedules align.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Renato Moicano | Beat Chris Duncan at UFC Fight Night 272 (commented on rematch afterward) |
| Brian Ortega | Finished Renato Moicano by guillotine choke in 2017; record moved to 14-0 (+1 NC) |
This story is presented by UFCcoverage.
