Renato Moicano tells Paddy Pimblett: “Don’t accept the fight”

After UFC Fight Night 243, the roles are reversed.

Renato Moicano has been calling for a fight against Paddy Pimblett for months. But after his TKO of Benoit Saint Denis on Saturday at the Accor Arena in Paris, Moicano (20-5-1 MMA, 12-5 UFC) was called out by Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC).

“Let’s do this,” Pimblett wrote on Instagram, tagging Moicano in the caption.

However, upon hearing of this challenge, Moicano discouraged Pimblett from accepting the fight if it was actually offered.

“Please don’t accept the fight,” Moicano said at a post-fight press conference. “I’m going to hurt you. I’m going to elbow you in the skull.”

Pimblett has been open about fighting Moicano in the past. But as one of the most sought-after fighters in today's UFC, he himself is rarely called to fights. Saturday was a rarity in that regard, and Moicano hopes to make the most of it, possibly with a coaching gig on “The Ultimate Fighter.”

“I think it will be a big sensation,” Moicano said. “Right now I’m looking for exposure. I'm looking for cameras because I've been in the UFC for 10 years. This year it will be 10 years. Three years ago nobody knew me. Nobody knew me and I always work hard. I have always put in a lot of work. But it doesn't matter if you're the best fighter in the world, nobody knows. I want more cameras. I want more people to talk about my name in MMA because that way I can get more attention and make a case for fighting for the belt at some point.”

Pimblett isn't the only one on Moicano's radar, however. Before Pimblett's name was mentioned, Moicano mentioned Dan Hooker as “easy money.”

Regardless of who comes next, Moicano wants to be taken seriously. He has won four straight, but Moicano said his momentum carries even further back.

“Everyone's talking about, 'Now you have four wins in a row.' No, I have six straight wins at lightweight,” Moicano said. “I only lost at 160 against Rafael dos Anjos. This is not a lightweight. This is a hook weight. Go to the top 15 and see someone with six wins and five finishes. People can't deny me anymore. I am 35 years old. I don't have much time, so now it's time to go. I want to beat Dan Hooker or Paddy Pimblett or someone else and fight for the title.”

For more information on the card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC Fight Night 243 event hub.