Renato Moicano offers himself as “easy fight” for Ilia Topuria’s UFC comeback after Justin Gaethje UFC Freedom 250 loss

Renato Moicano has offered himself as a potential comeback opponent for Ilia Topuria after the former UFC featherweight champion suffered a major setback against Justin Gaethje at UFC 250. Moicano believes Topuria could benefit from facing an opponent who allows him to rebuild his confidence before taking another high-profile fight.Topuria was stopped by Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 after previously scoring three straight wins over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. With speculation surrounding Topuria’s return, Moicano has now put his name forward. The Brazilian believes the UFC could look for a more manageable matchup before giving Topuria another major challenge.Renato Moicano believes Ilia Topuria needs a comeback fightRenato Moicano believes Ilia Topuria could use an easier matchup after the damage he suffered against Gaethje. The Spaniard was forced to stop the fight after the fourth round, with his corner calling it off on the stool.Topuria reportedly suffered two broken orbital bones, a broken septum and a broken foot during the fight. His loss ended a remarkable run that had seen him establish himself as one of the UFC’s biggest stars.The defeat has also led to speculation about what comes next. A rematch with Gaethje has been discussed, while a potential grudge fight with Paddy Pimblett is another option.Moicano believes the UFC could choose a different route, “Ilia Topuria. That’s a name. He needs an easy fight, right? That’s the truth. We know how the UFC operates. Either they sacrifice him and Paddy Pimblett [against each other], or they’ll give him a fight to keep rolling, so the guy can get his confidence back.”Moicano is preparing for his own fight before he can seriously pursue the matchup. He is scheduled to face Tom Nolan at UFC Vegas 123 on October 31.His scheduled fight with Brian Ortega was cancelled for a second time, leading to Nolan becoming his next opponent. The Australian enters the contest on a five-fight winning streak and is ranked No. 11 in the lightweight division.Moicano believes Topuria’s confidence took a significant blow against Gaethje. He also feels the Spaniard can change the situation with a strong performance in his next fight.“And I think his confidence is broken. And look at how life works, man. Six months ago, I was saying this guy could possibly be one of the greatest of all time, but you’re only as good as your last fight. And he can come back. He can come back, knock out the next guy, and get back on track”, he said.Moicano also expects Topuria to return with extra motivation. He believes the loss could make the former champion even more dangerous when he steps back into the Octagon.Moicano has already faced elite competition during his UFC career. He famously accepted a short-notice fight against Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 311. Makhachev submitted him in the first round.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.