Renato Moicano was not happy about the lack of fans at his hometown fight Saturday.
There was nothing he could do about that. But something that was in his control? Changing the fact that his lightweight bout against Damir Hadzovic, unlike the nine before it, would the distance.
Moicano (14-3-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC) put on an impressive show in their UFC on ESPN+ 28 main-card bout, earning the victory over Hadzovic (13-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) in just 44 seconds via rear-naked choke at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil.
That turned out to be just the start of the fireworks, as Moicano then inexplicably got in his defeated foes’ face before security separated them.
Asked by in-cage interviewer Michael Bisping what prompted his outburst, Moicano vented that his disappointment was because the stands were empty, as was decreed by the governor of Brasilia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am sorry I am very frustrated because today,” said Moicano, who went on to call out Paul Felder, “I fought in my hometown, and I see nobody, I don’t see familiar faces.”
Regardless, the American Top Team competitor’s 14th career finish snapped a two-fight losing streak. Hadzovic now has dropped two in a row.
The lightweight bout was part of the UFC on ESPN+ 28 main card at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil. It aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 28 results include:
- Renato Moicano def. Damir Hadzovic via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 1, 0:44
- Nikita Krylov def. Johnny Walker via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Francisco Trinaldo def. John Makdessi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Brandon Moreno def. Jussier Formiga via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Amanda Ribas def. Randa Markos via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-25)
- Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Aleksei Kunchenko via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Rani Yahya vs. Enrique Barzola ruled a majority draw (28-29, 28-28, 28-28)
- Maryna Moroz def. Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- David Dvorak def. Bruno Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Bea Malecki def. Veronica Macedo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
