Rival’s 3.2 million Instagram followers earns ‘respect’ of UFC star Renato Moicano

After beating Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC Paris, Renato Moicano reveals he has respect for Paddy Pimblett; but for a very particular reason.


Rival’s 3.2 million Instagram followers earns ‘respect’ of UFC star Renato Moicano

Renato Moicano on Paddy Pimblett (Image via Imago)

Renato Moicano has not lost a fight since 2022. The Brazilian is ready for his next fight after a recent win against Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC Paris. While Moicano puts down rising contender Paddy Pimblett, the Liverpudlian has managed to gain Moicano’s respect. Here is what happened:

After his fight at UFC Paris, Renato Moicano joined the ESPN MMA for the UFC Fight Night Post Show. Talking to Karyn Bryant, Michael Bisping, and Anthony Smith, Moicano expressed his thoughts on his next potential fight. This was when the Brazilian brought up Paddy Pimblett and why he respected him a little bit more.

Paddy Pimblett is another easy money but I respect him a little bit more. You know why? Because he has a lot of followers. If you have followers, you have my respect. People want to see Paddy Pimblett and I respect him.

Renato Moicano via ESPN MMA

‘The Baddy’ has established himself as a rising star in the UFC. He did this not only through his performances in the octagon but also through his significant social media presence. Pimblett has an Instagram following of around 3.2 million. Add to it his YouTube channel, boasting over 973,000 subscribers, Pimblett has outpaced many of his UFC peers. His social media standing has made him one of the most popular fighters in terms of digital influence.

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Renato Moicano sees a potential fight with Paddy Pimblett as a big opportunity— largely because of Pimblett’s immense following. Moicano understands that in the UFC, popularity can be just as important as rankings. This makes him a high-value opponent in terms of exposure and marketability.

Renato Moicano is satisfied with his performance against Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC Paris

Renato Moicano delivered a dominant performance against Benoit Saint-Denis in the main event at UFC Paris. The fight saw Moicano control most of the action with effective ground-and-pound, leaving Saint-Denis badly battered by the end of the first round. 

Renato Moicano beats Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC Paris
Renato Moicano beats Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC Paris (Image via X)

After the fight, Moicano did his post-fight interview with Mckenzie Pavacich. There he expressed his satisfaction regarding his performance at the main event showdown. This win marked his fourth consecutive win since 2022.

Once I was on top, I knew the fight was over… I’m really happy with my performance tonight.

Renato Moicano via UFC

Despite Saint-Denis trying to rally in the second round, the Brazilian continued to overpower him. Moicano landed significant strikes and caused major damage, particularly to his eye. By the end of the second round, the ringside doctor stepped in and stopped the fight. Saint-Denis was unable to see out of his injured eye. Meanwhile, Moicano walked away with a TKO victory via doctor stoppage.