Moicano slams Ortega vs. Hooker as 'worst fight in the UFC' after two canceled rematches

Renato Moicano has labelled the upcoming Brian Ortega vs. Dan Hooker bout “the worst fight in the UFC,” expressing genuine bewilderment at the matchup ahead of his own main event appearance at UFC Vegas 123 on Saturday against Tom Nolan.

Ortega and Hooker are scheduled to meet at UFC Qatar on November 21 at ABHA Arena in Doha, with Ortega (16-5, 1 NC) making his UFC lightweight debut against the experienced Hooker (24-15). Moicano, who holds a 21-7-1 record, has history with both men and made his feelings plain in an interview with Full Send MMA.

“This is gonna be the worst fight in the UFC,” Moicano said. “Brian Ortega vs. Dan Hooker, that’s f*cked up. I don’t know how the UFC made that fight. But let’s see, let’s wait and see how they do. And let’s see how I beat Tom Nolan.”

The frustration is rooted in a lengthy and fruitless pursuit of both fighters. Moicano had a rematch with Ortega booked for UFC 326, but Ortega withdrew citing lingering injuries. The pair were rescheduled for UFC 331 in September, only for Ortega to pull out again after suffering a severe cut above his eye. Moicano’s repeated callouts of Hooker, meanwhile, have yet to produce a fight.

Ortega does hold a win over Moicano — he submitted the Brazilian with a third-round guillotine choke in a featherweight contest back in 2017 — which adds another layer to Moicano’s evident irritation at watching his would-be opponents matched against each other instead.

Despite his grievances, Moicano insists his attention is fixed on Saturday’s main event against Nolan at UFC Vegas 123, with the Ortega-Hooker situation serving more as background noise than a distraction.