Benoit Saint-Denis READY to take everything that is ‘open’ against Renato Moicano at UFC Paris

Standout UFC lightweight contender Benoit Saint-Denis wants a statement against Renato Moicano at UFC Paris, and get back to Dustin Poirier.

Benoit Saint-Denis READY to take everything that is ‘open’ against Renato Moicano at UFC Paris

Benoit Saint-Denis means business against Renato Moicano (Source: IMAGO)

Benoit Saint-Denis is looking to re-establish himself with a statement fight against Renato Moicano at UFC Paris. Prior to his KO to Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 pay-per-view in March, Saint-Denis was on a tear in the division. He had five straight finishes over opponents, with the French crowd behind him. Now, he means to get back to all that glory at Saturday’s Fight Night main event.

Dustin Poirier’s heavy proportion win wasn’t a testament to ‘God of War’ being bad, but ‘The Diamond’ being too good. When Moicano (19-5-1 MMA, 11-5 UFC) takes on Benoit Saint-Denis in Saturday’s UFC Paris, aka UFC Fight Night 243 (ESPN+) main event at Accor Arena, the Frenchman means to go to his winning momentum. Donning the old Légionnaire legends of the old, the fighter is now giving in to the all is up for the taking sentiment.

Everything is open. Everything is to take, …First off, I need to put on a huge performance against Moicano. He’s a tough fight…I’m expecting a tough fight, and it’s going to be war. Expect me to do my best to climb the division…Of course, what we want is ‘same’ fighter with a bit more responsibility defensively, …I’m ready to give a war and show this off.

Benoit Saint-Denis during Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 243 Media Day; H/T: La Sueur (@lasueuroff on YT)
YouTube video

Moicano is 6-1 since making the jump to the UFC’s 155 division in March 2020. His six UFC rear-naked choke submission victories tie for third-most in UFC competition. Throughout his career, Renato Moicano has been ground-game-heavy. But the BJJ savant is also infamous for mixing up his strike game. However, the Team CYFIT MMA lightweight thinks he can handle all that.

FS Video

Although Saint-Denis had been battling a staph infection, his over-aggressiveness led him to the shadow realm. The 28-year-old says he has enlisted a new striking coach for this camp. Saint-Denis is a -270 betting favorite on DraftKings over Moicano, a +220 underdog. Moicano most recently had a TKO of Jalin Turner at the UFC 300 pay-per-view in April. The Southpaw striker means to keep those odds. With a step up the ladder, he also aims to rematch Poirier again.

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Benoit Saint-Denis sees only way to get Dustin Poirier in lofty step

When two lightweight warriors collide this weekend in UFC Paris, it’ll be the first time Benoit Saint-Denis competes since his loss. This Saturday, he takes on fellow Top 15-ranked Lightweight Renato ‘Money’ Moicano. The Frenchman veteran is already seeing steps ahead of that scrap.

Benoit Saint-Denis also wants his rematch with Dustin Poirier after UFC Paris
Benoit Saint-Denis also wants his rematch with Dustin Poirier after UFC Paris (Source: es.agfight.com/X)

To which, he has Dustin Poirier in mind again. Some losses, even without the rivalry and trash-talk, just sting hard. Saint-Denis has earned all 13 of his career wins by stoppage. He has landed 58.4 percent of his significant strikes in UFC lightweight competition, the third-best rate in the division’s history. So the scrap with Poirier was a pure striking clinic, minus his silly gilly gimmick. He holds a sentimental value to get back to that. But in quite an odd way:

I think the only way I’ll get a shot at [Poirier] again is to take the belt from Makhachev’s waist, …then I’ll have some things that he hasn’t. Maybe we will do it back and forth. But it’s the only way I see having the honor and privilege to fight him again. So I have to work my a** off to get there.

Benoit Saint-Denis to CBS Sports

It’s a little roundabout, to say the least. But his massive co-main event knockout loss was harrowing. To have the 155-pound belt would be one-up on his revenge tour over ‘Diamond’. The latter, Dustin Poirier, is a 30-fight veteran and interim titleholder who hasn’t gotten to that dance yet.

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He is 0-3 in title affairs in the past. Hence the UFC Paris star wants to hook and bait him with the one thing he hasn’t got. The shot to earn title gold. While kind of ingenious Saint-Denis must get through Renato Moicano first.