UFC Fight Night Moicano vs. Saint-Denis Preview and Predictions

On September 28th, the UFC makes a triumphant return to France for an exciting showdown between two top-15 lightweights! This event marks the UFC's third visit to France since September 2023, which featured a clash between heavyweight Ciryl Gane and Serghei Spivac.

The main event features a lightweight bout between top lightweights Renato Moicano and Benoit Saint Denis. Renato Moicano is currently on a three-fight winning streak and will be looking to secure a high-profile clash if he emerges victorious this Saturday. On the other hand, Benoit Saint Denis has a night fight with top UFC lightweight veteran Dustin Poirier. Despite suffering a second knockout loss, Saint Denis is ready to jump back into the octagon and continue his rise in the always great 155 division.

The co-main event features another high-profile clash between top-10 middleweights Nassourdine Imavov and Brendan Allen. Imavov most recently secured a fourth-round TKO victory over Jared Cannonier to earn a top-five ranking in the middleweight division. Allen is currently on a seven-fight winning streak and can find himself in a battle for top contender status if he can defeat French-born Imavov on home soil.

The card also features a number of French fighters, including Kevin Jousset and Farez Ziam. A number of French-born fighters will take center stage, hoping to emerge victorious in front of their hometown crowd.

UFC Fight Night Moicano vs. Saint-Denis will air live in full on ESPN+ starting at 12 p.m. ET. Combat Press writers Andrew Sumian and Matt Petela preview the action in this week's Toe-toe-Toe.

Benoit Saint-Denis failed in his last fight against former interim champion Dustin Poirier; Can he successfully rebound against Renato Moicano in front of his home crowd?

Sumian: This is certainly one of the better main events for a UFC fight night than we're used to. In his last outing, Saint-Denis proved he could hang with the top lightweights, winning the first round comfortably before being finished in extraordinary fashion by veteran Dustin Poirier. It's fair to say that this was a matter of experience and should only make Saint-Denis better in his future UFC appearances. On the other hand, we have the up-and-coming Renato Moicano, who continues to market himself as an entertaining personality due to his viral promos and cage wins. Saturday's main event should deliver in more ways than one and leave Paris fans begging for more.

The rise of Saint-Denis ahead of Dustin Poirier was something special. He defeated all five of his opponents in impressive fashion, showing his ability to not only take people out but also fight skillfully. The French native took a big step forward in the competition against Poirier and lost to the experienced boxing veterans in the second round. Still, it wasn't a bad performance from the up-and-coming Saint-Denis, who demonstrated his strength, athleticism and powerful top grappling in the first round. Saint-Denis' path to victory is to dominate his opponents using his power on the feet and on the ground before securing victory. If he can do that on Saturday, victory is in sight.

December marks the 10th anniversary of Renato Moicano's UFC career and it has been downright entertaining to say the least. The crafty Brazilian has had some success in the octagon, but has also suffered major setbacks when it comes to facing elite competition. Still, the 35-year-old is on a three-fight winning streak after defeating Jalin Turner at UFC 300. Moicano is prepared to remain patient and find ways to secure a win as the fight progresses. He has certainly proven his toughness and could take on a top-five opponent with an impressive win.

This battle requires patience rather than strength. Saint-Denis will need to finish Moicano early due to his cardiovascular issues and Moicano's ability to improve as the fight progresses. For Moicano, it's a matter of weathering Saint-Denis' early storm and securing a finish in the second half of the fight. Although Saint-Denis has an obvious power advantage in this fight, I'm betting on the veteran Moicano in this fight. Similar to the Turner fight, he will survive BSD's early onslaught and secure a submission victory in the second half of the fight.

Petela: I have to admit that I am biased towards my own ego in this regard. As I watched Benoit Saint-Denis take a brutal beating in his UFC debut, I told everyone within earshot that he would become UFC champion before the end of his career, making him only the second debutant to do so I had ever made such a claim. The other is Arman Taarukyan, who might prove me right, and if so, be prepared for a hint that I have told you so every time I mention his name. Imagine how excited I was when I heard about Saint-Denis' fight with Dustin Poirier and thought a win could set him up for a title shot. This defeat set him back, but showed fans that he can compete with any fighter on the planet when the opening bell rings.

That being said, I think Saint-Denis will shine under the bright lights and added pressure of a main event on home soil. I mean, the guy was a special forces officer, I doubt a fistfight is going to get the better of his emotions, no matter what's at stake. First round knockout of Saint-Denis as he charges forward early to overwhelm Moicano and doesn't relent until the referee pulls him away from his opponent.

Nassourdine is one of the favorites to defeat American standout Brendan Allen. Will the French fighter score a win and delight the home crowd?

Petela: I do not believe that. Brendan Allen will play spoiler and take the air out of the arena. He has won seven fights in a row and avenged his loss to Chris Curtis the last time he stepped foot in the cage, not to mention the victory he picked up over Marvin Vettori outside of the most recent PFL event. The 28-year-old is in the best shape of his physical condition and is putting his skills together well. Although he relies heavily on his grappling, Allen is much more than just a one-trick pony. His hands are crisp and he uses them well to avoid danger and fight at close range so he can take the fight into his realm and work on the ground.

Imavov has won two straight and is certainly a highly talented fighter, but he is facing Allen at the wrong time. Imavov tends to go full speed early in fights and slow down later in the fight. That's where things will go wrong for him. After a hard-fought first few rounds, Allen will score a takedown from the clinch on an exhausted Imavov, knocking him right through his guard and grabbing an arm-triangle choke that ends the fight.

Sumian: This is a fantastic co-main event for a fight night. However, based on their resume, none of these men are ready to become UFC champions. Brendan Allen is currently on a seven-fight winning streak, but none of those opponents have been in the top echelon of middleweight. Imavov has also had recent success, securing the biggest win of his career against Jared Cannonier in June 2024. This win is a tough one to pick as both fighters have yet to take the next step toward becoming elite middleweights.

That being said, I expect Imavov to get a split decision win, which should be back and forth in all three rounds.

Which UFC fighter's career is at stake in this event?

Sumian: Ion Cutelaba. He is 1-4 in his last five UFC outings and has shown time and time again that he is way too emotional when it comes to fighting. If he loses to Ivan Erslan, his time in the UFC could be over.

Petela: Roosevelt Roberts. He is in his second stint with the UFC and lost his last fight and also missed weight. He comes into this fight with two shots against him and if he doesn't raise his hand, his second run with the promotion will likely be over.

Which fight is the sleeper match on this card?

Petela: Fares Ziam vs. Matt Frevola. Remember the boring fight against Matt Frevola? Me neither. Win or lose, the guy gets the action going and puts himself in harm's way to end fights. I can't say for sure how this will all end, but I know it will be exciting for as long as it lasts.

Sumian: Ludovit Klein and Roosevelt Roberts should be fun. I expect Klein to come out victorious, but Roberts is an excellent dance partner and will help make this fight one of the best of the night.

Who will take home the Performance of the Night award?

Sumian: Renato Moicano. He will once again find a way to secure a win after withstanding BSD's early attack. Expect the Brazilian to cut an entertaining promo and highlight a top-five lightweight player.

Petela: Ailin Perez. She is on the road to success with three wins in a row, although all by decision. To truly become a star, she needs a finish to really wow some fans. She gets that this weekend. A knockout win over Darya Zheleznyakova and a little post-fight dance will be enough to leave a lasting impression and earn her a post-fight bonus.

Combine this card with…

Petela: This fight card is all about Benoit Saint-Denis re-establishing himself as a lightweight contender. So combine this menu with a traditional French festival dish such as Coq au Vin. It sounds very fancy to small town people like me, but in reality it's just braised chicken cooked with wine and mushrooms. It's not particularly difficult to make, but it sounds cool and will impress your guests.

Sumian: Some French baguettes. If you plan on viewing this card with a group, serve some French baguettes with cheese and cold cuts that are sure to get your group in the French fighting spirit!