TLDR Brian Ortega withdrew from UFC 331 bout with Moicano due to an eye laceration suffered in training UFC moved Moicano to October 31 UFC Vegas 123 main event against Tom Nolan instead This is the second time Ortega has pulled out from a scheduled fight with Moicano Moicano believes Tom Nolan will be a harder opponent than Ortega would have been Nolan is on a five-fight winning streak and will compete for Moicano’s No. 8 lightweight ranking Renato Moicano will fight Tom Nolan in the main event of UFC Vegas 123 on October 31 after Brian Ortega withdrew from their scheduled bout at UFC 331. The Brazilian lightweight learned he lost his opponent for the second time just days before Saturday’s event in Los Angeles.
Ortega suffered a laceration over his eye during training that forced him out of the fight. UFC officials announced the cancellation on Monday, leaving the promotion scrambling to find a solution for Moicano.
UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell reached out to Moicano with options after the withdrawal. During an interview with Ariel Helwani, Moicano explained the conversation that led to his new fight.
“Hunter called me, and he said, ‘Hey, Ortega is out. What do you ...