Moicano Announces MMA Retirement After Three UFC Fights

Renato Moicano plans to retire from mixed martial arts after his current UFC contract runs out in three fights.

The Brazilian lightweight told Ariel Helwani he wants to shift into influencer boxing rather than extend his time with the promotion, saying the UFC will not offer enough money to keep him. Moicano pointed to Tony Ferguson's eight-fight skid as a cautionary tale he refuses to repeat. "I don't want to be like Tony Ferguson," he said, per Sherdog. "Eight fights, trying to be a champion, 40 years old, on a six-fight losing streak. I don't want that."

Moicano Eyes Influencer Boxing Over Contract Extension

Moicano has dropped three of his last four bouts, most recently losing by stoppage to Tom Nolan in the UFC Vegas 123 main event on Oct. 31 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The 21-8-1 fighter said he no longer feels the same passion for MMA and wants to step away before his skills erode further. "Sometimes you have to realize when you're done," he told Helwani. "You have to realize how much gas you have left in the tank, how much love for the sport you have."

After finishing his deal, Moicano said he plans to pursue matchups against non-fighters in exhibition bouts, mentioning Adin Ross as a potential opponent. He characterized the move as a chance to compete on his own terms without the physical toll of elite-level MMA.

Moicano's final three contracted fights have not been announced. The 35-year-old has competed in the UFC since 2014.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Renato Moicano predicts MMA retirement after three more UFC fights