At the third edition of UFC Paris, an evening full of surprises and local victories for the French fighters ended on a disappointing note for many fans. Benoît Saint-Denis lost to Renato Moicano by a doctor’s stoppage at the end of the second round, marking his second consecutive loss against one of the top 15 fighters in the organization.
An impressive French performance, but a frustrating ending
With six wins out of nine fights for the French, the evening was marked by notable local dominance, including two impressive knockouts by Fares Ziam and Morgan Charrière. Saint-Denis was expected to join in these victories, but he faced a tough night in the octagon. He took significant hits early in the first round from Moicano, resulting in his right eye being completely closed and suffering severe injuries.
Doctor’s decision and fight stoppage
At the end of the second round, the doctor decided to stop the fight due to the increasing physical damage to Saint-Denis, which angered the crowd and left Benoît disappointed. This raises the question: Was the decision medically justified, or could the fight have continued? And will this early stoppage affect the French fighter’s mindset in future battles?
Benoît Saint-Denis: A promise to return
Despite the loss, Saint-Denis had a clear message for his loyal fans: “You are the best audience in the world. Your support is incredible. I was asleep in the first round, but I will come back stronger. Sorry for this result.”
Ce n’était pas mon jour, ce sport est dur mais incroyable.
Merci à tous pour votre soutien indéfectible. Fier d’avoir pu représenter la 🇫🇷 dans l’octogone.
Respect à mon adversaire @moicanoufc, de m’avoir affronté à la maison et bravo à lui. pic.twitter.com/N65gVW5hHg
— Benoît « God of War » Saint Denis (@BenoitSt_Denis) September 29, 2024
This shows his determination to bounce back despite the challenges, a notable trait for a professional athlete. But will he be able to overcome this streak of losses and return stronger to the octagon?
Renato Moicano continues his rise
On the other hand, Renato Moicano affirmed his strength and readiness for bigger challenges after his convincing win. He mentioned that he would like to face fighters like Dan Hooker or Paddy Pimblett next. These statements open up another question: Can Moicano climb to the top of the division after these victories, or will the upcoming challenges be more difficult?
In the end, the most important question remains: Will Saint-Denis return stronger to the UFC octagon, or will these consecutive losses leave psychological scars that could affect his sporting career?
