Brazilian Renato Moicano received an unexpected chance to fight for the UFC lightweight belt. The fight for the title, this Saturday (18/01), would be between Islam Makhachev (current champion) and Arman Tsarukyan, but Tsarukyan claimed a “last minute” back injury and Moicano was chosen, this Friday, for the big duel .
Born in Brasília, Renato Moicano is 35 years old and has a 20-5-1 record in MMA. He is ranked tenth in the lightweight rankings (up to 70.3 kg) and is trying for the belt for the first time, but he has four victories in the category and has not lost since March 2022. Thus, he received from Dana White, president of the UFC, the opportunity to make the main fight of UFC 311.
UFC 311, the first numbered of 2025, will take place at the Intuit Dome, in California, in the United States, with main card starting at midnight from Saturday to Sunday. Renato Moicano was already scheduled for the card, but would have a secondary fight, against Beneil Dariush. This Friday, Moicano weighed exactly 70.3 kg and was confirmed in the main fight.
Moicano’s opponent, Islam Makhachev, weighed 70kg. Islam Makhachev is, in addition to being the leader of the lightweight rankings, number 1 in the overall rankings, surpassing names like Jon Jones and Alex Poatan.
Islam Makhachev is Russian, 33 years old and has a 26-1 record in MMA. Makhachev has held the lightweight belt since October 2022, when he submitted Brazilian Charles do Bronxs. Since then, he has defended his belt by winning three fights, coming from a knockout and a submission.
Renato Moicano vs Islam Makhachev at UFC 311: where to watch
- Date: January 18th, Saturday
- Where to watch: UFC Fight Pass (streaming) – shows the entire preliminary and main card
- Time: preliminary card from 8pm (Brasília time) / main card from 0am (Brasília time)
- Location: Inglewood, California, United States
UFC 311: Moicano x Makhachev – full card
Card principal
From 0 am (Brasília time)
- Lightweight belt (up to 70.3 kg): Renato Moicano x Islam Makhachev
- Bantamweight belt (up to 61.2 kg): Merab Dvalishvili x Umar Nurmagomedov
- Light heavyweight (up to 92.9 kg): Jiri Prochazka x Jamahal Hill
- Heavyweight (up to 120.2 kg): Jailton Almeida x Serghei Spivac
- Middleweight (up to 83.9 kg): Kevin Holland x Reinier de Ridder
Preliminary card
From 8pm (Brasília time)
- Bantamweight (up to 61.2 kg): Payton Talbott x Raoni Barcelos
- Middleweight (up to 83.9 kg): Zachary Reese x Azamat Bekoev
- Light heavyweight (up to 92.9 kg): Bogdan Guskov x Billy Elekana
- Lightweight (up to 70.3 kg): Grant Dawson x Diego Ferreira
- Bantamweight (up to 61.2 kg): Karol Rosa x Ailin Perez
- Bantamweight (up to 61.2 kg): Rinya Nakamura x Muin Gafurov
- Bantamweight (up to 61.2 kg): Ricky Turcios x Benardo Sopaj
- Flyweight (up to 56.7 kg): Tagir Ulanbekov x Clayton Carpenter
