Moicano Blasts Ortega vs Hooker as the 'Worst Fight in the UFC'

Renato Moicano has delivered a withering verdict on one of the UFC's latest bookings, calling the planned meeting between Brian Ortega and Dan Hooker the worst fight in the promotion. The pair are set to meet at UFC Qatar on November 21 at the ABHA Arena in Doha, with Ortega making his lightweight debut against the New Zealander.

Moicano's frustration is personal as well as professional. He has called out Hooker repeatedly without landing the fight, and twice had a rematch with Ortega cancelled — first at UFC 326, when Ortega withdrew with lingering injuries, and again at UFC 331 in September, when Ortega suffered a severe cut above his eye. Speaking to Full Send MMA, Moicano questioned how the promotion had arrived at the Ortega-Hooker pairing ahead of more natural matchups.

The Brazilian is not short of business of his own. He headlines UFC Vegas 123 on Saturday against Tom Nolan, and has said he plans to fight out the three bouts remaining on his current contract before considering free agency, with boxing or media work among his longer-term options. For now, though, his message about Doha is blunt: in his view, the UFC has got this one wrong.