El Weko Moicano

Renato Alves Carneiro (born May 21, 1989), known as Renato Moicano, is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2010, Moicano made a name for himself fighting all over his home country of Brazil, and is the former interim Jungle Fight Featherweight Champion. As of June 20, 2026, he is #7 in the Meta UFC lightweight rankings.

Moicano is known for his outspoken libertarian activism, inspired by taxes on his UFC winnings, promoting Austrian economics, Bitcoin as protection against financial instability, and core U.S. constitutional liberties.

Background Born in Brazil, Carneiro started training judo at the age of eight. He attended university in order to become a lawyer, but dropped out after two years to pursue a career in mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career After an undefeated professional record in eight fights, Moicano faced Ismael Bonfim for the interim Jungle Fight Featherweight Championship. He won the fight via rear naked choke submission in the first round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship On December 12, 2014, it was announced that Moicano signed with the UFC, and was scheduled to replace Rony Jason against Tom Niinimäki on 10 days notice at UFC Fight Night 58. He won the fight via rear naked choke submission in the second round.

Moicano later was scheduled to fight Mirsad Bektic on May 30, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 67, but he was pulled from the bout due to injury and replaced by Lucas Martins.

On March 14, 2016, it was announced that Moicano would face Zubaira Tukhugov at UFC 198. for his second UFC appearance. He was the underdog to the fight but won via split decision.

Moicano was expected to face Mike De La Torre on September 24, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 95, but was forced to pull out with injury and was replaced on short notice by Godofredo Pepey.

For his third fight, Moicano faced Jeremy Stephens on April 15, 2017, at UFC on Fox 24. He won the fight by split decision.

Moicano faced Brian Ortega on July 29, 2017, at UFC 214. He lost the fight via guillotine choke submission in the third round. This fight earned Fight of the Night bonus. After the fight with Ortega, Moicano moved from Brazil to United States in order to train at the American Top Team. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Moicano faced Cub Swanson on August 4, 2018, at UFC 227. He won the fight via a rear naked choke submission. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Moicano was scheduled to face Mirsad Bektic on December 8, 2018, at UFC 231; however, it was reported on 15 November 2018 that Bektic was forced to pull out of the bout due to an undisclosed injury and the bout was cancelled.

Moicano faced José Aldo on February 2, 2019, in the co-main event at UFC Fight Night 144. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Moicano faced Chan Sung Jung on June 22, 2019, in the main event at UFC Fight Night 154. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

Moicano faced Damir Hadžović in a lightweight bout on March 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 170. He won the fight via a rear naked choke submission in round one.

Moicano was scheduled to face Magomed Mustafaev on October 18, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 180. However, Moicano pulled out of the fight in mid-September for undisclosed reasons. Two weeks later, it was reported that Moicano was scheduled to face Rafael Fiziev on November 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark. In turn, Moicano pulled out on November 28 after testing positive for COVID-19 and the bout was rescheduled for UFC 256. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

Moicano faced Jai Herbert on June 26, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 190. He won the fight via a rear naked choke in round two.

Moicano faced Alexander Hernandez on February 12, 2022, at UFC 271. He won the bout via rear naked choke in the second round.

Moicano was tabbed as a short notice replacement for Rafael Fiziev and faced Rafael dos Anjos on March 5, 2022, at UFC 272. The bout was contested at a catchweight of 160 pounds. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Moicano faced Brad Riddell on November 12, 2022, at UFC 281. He won the bout via a rear naked choke in the first round.

Moicano was scheduled to face Arman Tsarukyan on April 29, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 45. However, Moicano withdrew due to an injury.

Moicano faced Drew Dober on February 3, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 235. Despite having his face cut open in the second round, Moicano had a significant amount of top-position control time which helped him win the bout by unanimous decision.

Moicano faced Jalin Turner on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300. After being knocked down at the end of the first round, Moicano rallied back and won the bout by technical knockout as a result of ground-and-pound.

Moicano faced Benoît Saint Denis in the main event on September 28, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 243. He won the fight by technical knockout due to doctor stoppage at the end of the second round as a result of damage done to Saint Denis' right eye.

Moicano was originally scheduled to face Beneil Dariush on January 18, 2025 at UFC 311. A day before the event, an injury suffered by title challenger Arman Tsarukyan forced him to pull out of the fight. Moicano ended up replacing Tsarukyan and challenged Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev for the title. He lost the fight via a D'arce choke submission in the first round.

Moicano's bout with Dariush was re-scheduled and took place on June 28, 2025 at UFC 317. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Moicano was scheduled to face former UFC Featherweight Championship challenger Brian Ortega in a rematch on March 7, 2026 at UFC 326. However, Ortega withdrew due to injury, and the bout was scrapped.

Moicano faced Chris Duncan on April 4, 2026 in the main event at UFC Fight Night 272. He won the fight via a face crank submission in the second round.

Professional grappling career Moicano defeated Chase Hooper via unanimous decision at Fury Pro Grappling 3 on December 30, 2021.

Moicano faced Cristian Guzman in the co-main event of UFC Fight Pass Invitational 7 on May 15, 2024. He won the match on points.

Personal life Moicano and his wife have a son (b. 2020). Moicano started referring to himself as "Money" in November 2022 after his UFC 281 post-fight speech.

Moicano has attracted attention for his outspoken support of Austrian economics. In 2024 his UFC shoutout of Ludwig von Mises became a viral video. He has said that taxes on his UFC winnings led to his economic study and activism. Later in 2024, he spoke negatively about French president Emmanuel Macron, globalists, and democracy in a victory speech in Paris; advising the audience to read the libertarian book Democracy: The God That Failed by Hans-Hermann Hoppe.

Championships and achievements

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) UFC Honors Awards 2024: Fan's Choice Comeback of the Year Winner UFC.com Awards 2024: Ranked #7 Fighter of the Year Jungle Fight Interim Jungle Fight Featherweight Championship (One time) ESPN 2022 Best On-The-Mic moment of the Year at UFC 281 MMA Fighting 2024 First Team MMA All-Star

Mixed martial arts record Win

Chris Duncan Submission (face crank) UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Duncan

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Beneil Dariush Decision (unanimous) UFC 317

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Islam Makhachev Submission (brabo choke) UFC 311

Inglewood, California, United States Win

Benoît Saint Denis TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis

Paris, France Win

Jalin Turner TKO (elbows and punches) UFC 300

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Drew Dober Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Brad Riddell Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 281

New York City, New York, United States Loss

Rafael dos Anjos Decision (unanimous) UFC 272

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Alexander Hernandez Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 271

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Jai Herbert Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Rafael Fiziev KO (punches) UFC 256

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Damir Hadžović Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira

Brasília, Brazil Loss

Jung Chan-sung TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. The Korean Zombie

Greenville, South Carolina, United States Loss

José Aldo TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2

Fortaleza, Brazil Win

Cub Swanson Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 227

Los Angeles, California, United States Win

Calvin Kattar Decision (unanimous) UFC 223

Brooklyn, New York, United States Loss

Brian Ortega Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 214

Anaheim, California, United States Win

Jeremy Stephens Decision (split) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Reis

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Zubaira Tukhugov Decision (split) UFC 198

Curitiba, Brazil Win

Tom Niinimäki Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway

Barueri, Brazil Win

Ismael Bonfim Submission (rear-naked choke) Jungle Fight 71

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Nilson Pereira Decision (unanimous) Jungle Fight 55

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Mauro Chaulet Submission (rear-naked choke) Jungle Fight 50

Novo Hamburgo, Brazil

Felipe Froes Draw (majority) Shooto Brazil 36

Brasília, Brazil Win

Iliarde Santos Decision (unanimous) Jungle Fight 29

Serra, Brazil Win

João Luiz Nogueira Decision (unanimous) Jungle Fight 25

Vila Velha, Brazil Win

Eduardo Felipe Submission (rear-naked choke) Jungle Fight 24

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

João Paulo Rodrigues Decision (unanimous) Jungle Fight 21

Natal, Brazil Win

Alexandre Almeida Submission (rear-naked choke) Jungle Fight 18

São Paulo, Brazil

Submission grappling record 1 Match, 1 Win, 0 Losses Result Rec. Opponent Method Event Date LocationWin 1–0 Chase Hooper Decision (unanimous) Fury Pro Grappling 3 30 December 2021 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

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