Renato Moicano jokes ‘old’ Beneil Dariush ‘is not dead, but I’ll kill him’ at UFC 317

UFC 311: Makhachev vs Tsarukyan 2 - Press Conference — Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano | Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC

Renato Moicano has gained fans for his funny remarks on social media, especially when making fun of Beneil Dariush for being old – and then finding out during an interview with MMA Fighting he was born only 15 days before Dariush in May 1989 – but wants to treat his experienced opponent with the utmost respect going into UFC 317 in Las Vegas.

Moicano and Dariush finally meet in the octagon Saturday five months after the original date at UFC 311. When Arman Tsarukyan fell out of a title fight with Islam Makhachev at the last second, Moicano was called in as a replacement on hours’ notice. Moicano and Dariush were later re-booked for June 28 on International Fight Week, and Moicano doesn’t expect an easy night in the eight-sided cage.

“I was making fun of him being old because of his white hair, but he’s a tough guy, you know?” Moicano told MMA Fighting. “It’s a fight like any other in the UFC. But it’s like I said, maybe it’s one of the most favorable fights in the top 10. I said, ‘Oh, he’s coming off three losses.’ In fact it’s only two, Charles [Oliveira] and Arman. One is fighting for the belt and the other one is the No. 1 contender, so it’s not like this man is dead. He’s not dead, but I’ll kill him on June 28 [laughs].”

Dariush has not fought since December 2023, when Tsarukyan knocked him out in just over a minute. That loss came six months after Charles Oliveira stopped him with punches also in Round 1. Rafael Cordeiro, who previously coached Dariush at Kings MMA, told MMA Fighting in April 2024 that Dariush had also suffered head trauma in the gym the year prior as the result of a pair of knockdowns and a knockout, and that’s one reason he asked Dariush to take time off from training.

Moicano is aware of the difficult times Dariush endured in 2023 and notes that his absence may help him come back stronger in 2025, but also wonders if UFC 317 could end up being his final night as a professional fighter.

“I don’t know how he’s doing in training, but I don’t care either. I hope it all goes bad for him there,” Moicano said with a laugh. “I think that being more active can help me, but like you said, he’s taken the time. But I see that he could still have many doubts, you know? He was knocked out twice, changed coaches. You’re a human being and you question yourself. I bet he retires if he loses now. He’ll do like Jalin Turner and retire. If he loses on June 28, he’ll say, ‘I’m getting beat up even by that old guy, I can’t compete anymore,’ and he’ll retire. Let’s see. I hope I retire him on June 28. I’m training for that.”

Moicano was on a four-fight winning streak when he jumped on a last-minute shot at glory against Makhachev, who went on to defeat Moicano by submission in the first round, but doesn’t feel he’s too far from another crack at gold.

“It’s all about timing in the UFC, it’s not always about who you beat,” Moicano said. “It’s about who you beat, who you are. Look at Paddy Pimblett, man. Let’s be honest, he beat [Michael] Chandler, OK, but Chandler isn’t a top 15. And there’s talks of him fighting Justin Gaethje already. And again, the UFC isn’t wrong. They can make the fights they want. the way I see it, Dariush is tough but he’s not on the hype. He lost to two tough guys and everybody—even myself—is saying he’s old, that he’s getting knocked out. If I beat him, that doesn’t move me up that much, but it all depends on the performance and what I say, and the fans. That’s what matters.”

Makhachev vacated the 155-pound belt to pursue more gold at welterweight, and Oliveira faces Ilia Topuria for the vacant throne in the main event of UFC 317. Tsarukyan serves as the backup fighter in case someone happens to either athlete, but Moicano doesn’t see himself too far off from the title picture.

“The UFC saw I have a ton of fans,” Moicano said. “I fought at UFC 311, and I’m again on the main card under the lightweight title fight. They’re put me up there. Dana White, Hunter [Campbell], they were all at the press conference and saw people screaming ‘Money, Money’. That’s what matters at the end of the day. They will look at that and go, ‘He’s 36, he’s not young anymore, it doesn’t make sense for him to fight for the belt, but he’s got a following. Let’s give him an interesting fight.’ So they will put me against someone on the same situation, someone popular.

“What this fight makes for me is good money in the pocket, since I’m renewing my contract, and set up better fights. Not for the belt, but who knows? It all depends on the performance, the speech, of fans giving it a like on YouTube, you know?”

Renato Moicano jokes ‘old’ Beneil Dariush ‘is not dead, but I’ll kill him’ at UFC 317

MMA Fighting – All Posts