NEW YORK – Renato Moicano welcomes a standup fight with Brad Riddell.
Moicano (16-5-1 MMA, 8-5 UFC) faces City Kickboxing’s Riddell (10-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 281 featured prelim at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.
Moicano has shown moments of brilliance throughout his career with his win over Calvin Kattar and submissions over the likes of Cub Swanson and Alexander Hernandez. He sees Riddell as another tough challenge, but he’s ready to shine in “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
“He’s a stud,” Moicano told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at media day. “He’s a great fighter, a great kickboxer. But at the end of the day, I have to punch him first. I only have good things to say about him. He’s a great fighter, but Saturday is gonna be my day, it’s gonna be my night. it’s gonna be my fight, and I’m ready. I’m ready to go over there and put on a show.”
With Riddell quickly getting tapped out in his past outing against Jalin Turner and Moicano winning most of his fights by submission, that could be a path to victory for the Brazilian. But Moicano says he’s game to stand toe to toe with the elite kickboxer.
“Even though he’s a great kickboxer and has a lot of experience, he’s evolving as an MMA fighter,” Moicano said. “We saw takedowns, we saw he’s trying to finish people – I don’t know. I feel my kickboxing is good too, so I’m not afraid.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.
Renato Moicano not afraid to stand with Brad Riddell at UFC 281: ‘My kickboxing is good too’