In an intense bout at UFC Paris, French fighter Benoît Saint-Denis lost to Brazilian Renato Moicano by medical decision after suffering severe injuries. This highly anticipated match ended unexpectedly after the second round when the doctor stopped the fight due to Saint-Denis’ completely shut eye and severely damaged face.
Fight details:
- Round 1: From the very start, Moicano asserted his dominance by taking Saint-Denis to the ground and delivering a series of powerful strikes. The French fighter found himself in deep trouble, especially after suffering an open cut that caused blood to flow down his face. Despite his attempts to endure, Saint-Denis took significant damage, including a rear-naked choke attempt that almost ended the fight early.
- Round 2: The second round showed slight improvement for Saint-Denis as he tried to regain control. However, his vision was impaired due to the swelling in his eye, which affected his performance. He managed to land a few strikes on Moicano and even attempted a successful takedown, but it wasn’t enough to change the course of the fight. With the damage to his face and eye worsening, the medical team, after consulting with the referee, decided to stop the fight before the start of the third round.
Second Loss: This marks Saint-Denis’ second consecutive defeat, following his unexpected loss to Dustin Poirier. The defeat in Paris was especially painful for his local fans, who were hoping for a hometown victory. Nevertheless, the fight showcased Saint-Denis’ resilience, but the physical damage he endured prevented him from continuing.
The fight ends with Renato Moicano's victory after the doctor's decision to stop the bout, as Saint-Denis was unable to continue due to the loss of vision in his right eye. #UFCParis pic.twitter.com/Z3sHi1ETaR
— mmamag.ma (@jamalsoussi10) September 29, 2024
Reactions: The decision to stop the fight angered Saint-Denis’ team and Parisian fans, who expected him to continue. However, the severe injuries justified the match’s end to prevent further health complications.
Conclusion: This loss is a major setback for Saint-Denis’ professional career, as he will need to reassess his strategy and recover physically before considering future fights. On the other hand, Moicano continues to build his reputation as a formidable lightweight contender, increasing his chances of competing for UFC titles in the future.
