Renato Moicano explains Paul Felder callout, apologizes for bizarre behavior at UFC Brasilia

Renato Moicano made quick work of Damir Hadzovic and proceeded to call out one of the UFC’s top ranked lightweights.

Moicano (14-3-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC) snapped his two-fight losing skid with a first-round submission of Hadzovic on Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 28 for a successful 155-pound debut. A top-ranked featherweight, Moicano is looking to mirror that promise in the lightweight division, and he wants Paul Felder next.

Felder has won two of his last three but is coming off a split decision loss to Dan Hooker at UFC on ESPN+ 26 in a “Fight of the Night” effort.

So why Felder? Moicano says it’s simply because of their placements in the rankings.

“I don’t know, because (it) just pop in my head,” Moicano said on the UFC on ESPN+ 28 post-fight show. “He’s the No. 7 (at 155), and I’m the No. 7 (at 145), and right now I’m fighting in the lightweight (division), so why not see who is the best? The lightweight or the featherweight?”

Brasilia native Moicano walked out to an empty crowd at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in what was meant to be a homecoming. After finishing Hadzovic in just 44 seconds, an angry Moicano got in Hadzovic’s face much to the confusion of everyone. It appears that Moicano’s frustration stemmed from both the lack of crowd and the quick finish.

He apologized for his actions afterward.

“No, I did wrong because I’m coming from two losses from tough guys, and I want to fight hard,” Moicano said. “I want to fight the best guys and in the first takedown, I put him on the ground and submit him, I want more fight. I want to fight, I want to fight, but I did wrong. I’m sorry, Hadzovic. I’m wrong.

“You know it was very strange to enter in the cage and don’t the see the crowd, especially the people from my city. I was looking forward to seeing the people cheer for me, but there is no problem. We have to fight in all circumstances, and I did good. I think I did good like a rear-naked choke in the first round against a tough guy. It was good for me.”