Moicano vs Ortega 2: nine years after the guillotine, Moicano thinks Brian Ortega has gone backwards
Moicano vs Ortega 2 finally happens at UFC 331 on September 19 in Los Angeles. The first fight, in 2017, ended with Brian Ortega choking Renato Moicano out in the third round. The rematch was supposed to happen in March and fell apart when Ortega withdrew injured. Now both men meet at lightweight, and Moicano is sure the gap has flipped.
- Fight Hub
- 14 September 2026
Key takeaways
- Renato Moicano (21-7-1) faces Brian Ortega (16-5) at lightweight on the UFC 331 main card on September 19 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
- Ortega submitted Moicano with a guillotine in the third round at UFC 214 on July 29, 2017, in a Fight of the Night; the rematch planned for UFC 326 in March was cancelled when Ortega withdrew injured.
- Moicano, winner by submission over Chris Duncan in April, says Ortega has declined a lot since their first fight; Ortega moves up after repeated trouble making 145 pounds.
The first Moicano vs Ortega fight
UFC 214, 2017
The first meeting took place at UFC 214 on July 29, 2017, at featherweight. It was close and fast, the kind of fight that earns a bonus, and it did: Fight of the Night. Moicano had success on the feet, but Ortega found the guillotine in the third round and finished it. That win pushed Ortega toward two title shots at 145 pounds.
A rematch that took nine years
The second fight was booked for UFC 326 in March 2026, then cancelled when Ortega pulled out injured. Moicano has never hidden that he wants it. After his submission of Chris Duncan he named Ortega as the one opponent he had bad blood with, and the UFC gave him the fight in Los Angeles.
Renato Moicano, a more complete fighter
From striker to grappler
Moicano (21-7-1) arrives in form. He submitted Chris Duncan in April at UFC Fight Night 272, a rebound after losses to Beneil Dariush and to Islam Makhachev in a title fight. He sits in the lightweight top 10, and he describes himself as a different fighter from 2017.
“I think I’ve become a much more complete athlete,” he told UFC.com.br. “Back then I fought much more on my feet, today I’m already taking fights to the ground.” That matters against an opponent whose best weapon has always been his submissions.
His read on Ortega
He was blunt about the other side. “I think Ortega has gotten a lot worse since our last fight,” Moicano said, while expecting a hard fight that goes to the scorecards.
I think I've become a much more complete athlete. Back then I fought much more on my feet, today I'm already taking fights to the ground.
Brian Ortega and the move to lightweight
A difficult run
Ortega (16-5) is a former two-time featherweight title challenger, but he comes in on a two-fight losing streak, the latest a decision against Aljamain Sterling at a catchweight. He has struggled to make 145 pounds for some time, which is why this fight is at 155.
What decides the rematch
The move up can cut both ways. Without the weight cut, Ortega may be fresher and stronger over three rounds; at lightweight, he also meets bigger men. His path is the one that worked in 2017: survive the exchanges and hunt for a neck in the scrambles. Moicano’s path is to use the grappling he has added, keep top position and avoid giving Ortega the front headlock.
Follow Moicano vs Ortega 2 with real numbers
Renato Moicano’s and Brian Ortega’s full records and the current lightweight rankings are in the FightHub app, updated through fight week. Download it to compare both fighters before September 19.
