Renato Moicano thinks Muhammad Mokaev would have created extra buzz than Steve Erceg as a UFC title challenger.
Regardless of Mokaev having extra expertise within the octagon, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (27-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC) wound up drawing Erceg (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 301 (Pay-per-view/ESPN/ESPN+) headliner at Rio Enviornment in Rio de Janeiro.
Moicano, who’s good pals and American High Group teammates with Pantoja, thinks Erceg isn’t a sufficiently big identify to attract viewers in after being within the UFC for less than a 12 months.
“I’m a pal with Pantoja,” Moicano stated on the “MIGHTYcast” podcast with Demetrious Johnson. “He’s my boy. I like him so much. Laborious employee, devoted man, at all times within the gymnasium, however I didn’t like this battle in any respect. This man (Erceg), he’s harmful however solely three fights within the UFC. No one is aware of who he’s. He’s not going to promote any pay-per-views. I feel Pantoja wished unhealthy to battle in Brazil as a result of it’s his house, proper?
“However I don’t assume it was very good within the enterprise aspect. Folks don’t understand how this can be a enterprise, proper? We have to create a narrative behind the fights. Like Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington, they acquired greater due to the meat. UFC profited off that, they profited off that. Should you see Pantoja preventing one other man that no one is aware of, I don’t assume it’s good for the present. In my guide, Pantoja is healthier than him in every single place.”
Erceg and Mokaev (11-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) each most just lately fought at UFC Battle Night time 238 in March. Erceg knocked out Matt Schnell, and Mokaev outgrappled former title challenger Alex Perez. Though Erceg had the extra thrilling efficiency, Moicano thinks Mokaev vs. Pantoja is an even bigger battle.
“I’m probably not excited to look at the battle,” Moicano stated. “I want to watch Pantoja in opposition to Mokaev. I do know lots of people give trash to Mokaev as a result of he had a troublesome battle in opposition to Perez, however I feel he would promote the battle extra.”
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