Renato Moicano defeats Benoit Saint Denis by TKO when the doctor stops the fight

After a tough first-round loss, Renato Moicano defeated Benoît Saint Denis via a two-round medical stoppage in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Paris on Saturday.

Denying the rabid fans at the Accor Arena a reason to celebrate, Moicano laid waste to Saint Denis from the opening bell with brutal punches and punches. Although Saint Denis survived the first round, his face was bloody and battered, and both eyes were rapidly swelling.

The Frenchman looked better in the second round, but the early defeat he suffered had already taken its toll.

With Saint Denis's right eye swollen shut and his left eye not too far behind, the cageside doctor intervened before the start of the third round and asked the referee to stop the fight because Saint Denis could not see out of his right eye .

Moicano (20-5-1 MMA, 12-5 UFC) entered the fight as the No. 11 ranked lightweight in the UFC and picked up his fourth straight win. He then sent a message to the lightweight construction department.

“I want easy money – Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker,” Moicano said. “I don’t want hard fights, I want easy fights. I just beat a damn good athlete. Everyone has been talking about Benoit Saint Denis, but guess what: 'Money' Moicano is the man tonight.”

A loud and supportive crowd celebrated all night until Moicano's stunning opening round. Moicano opened the fight as the attacker and pounced for a takedown just seconds into the fight. Before Saint Denis could react, Moicano snaked himself onto his back, used a body triangle to transition to full mount, and pounded the Frenchman in the head with elbows and punches. There was near silence at the Accor Arena as Saint Denis suffocated under the strong control of Moicano.

Wearing a crimson mask over a face that was quickly turning purple from bruising, Saint Denis (13-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) looked to change his fortunes in the second round and did well with his striking . But Moicano remained patient and worked behind the jab as both of Saint Denis' eyes began to swell.

As Saint Denis returned to his corner, it was clear that the damage from the first round had piled up. Saint Denis desperately tried to keep fighting, but the doctor called to stop the fight when the Frenchman couldn't see.

Saint Denis, who lives outside the Bayonee region in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France, has lost consecutive fights for the first time in his career. He lost by knockout to Dustin Poirier in March and will likely fall down the lightweight rankings after the loss to Moicano.