Moicano: Hooker being ranked top 5 is ‘like seeing a turtle in a tree’

Renato Moicano has come a long way over the past two years since his infamous expletive filled “Moicano wants money!” speech at UFC 281. The fighter had been a favorite of hardcore fans for years, but since then he’s made himself impossible to ignore lately with his wild performances and outspoken ways.

Moicano is now on a four fight winning streak after smashing Benoit Saint-Denis’ face to a bloody pulp. The ringside physician stopped their fight after the second round because the damage was so bad. It was another wild performance, and then Renato got on the mic and called the president of France a corrupt globalist.

‘Outspoken’ really doesn’t begin to cover that latest post-fight interview. And he’s continuing to say whatever’s on his mind as he hunts down his next big exposure opportunity.

During the UFC Paris post-fight show on ESPN, “Money” threw some more shade at fellow lightweight Dan Hooker, who shot up the 155 pound rankings to No. 5 after defeating Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305.

“I don’t know how he’s in the top five, that’s unbelievable,” he exclaimed. “It’s like seeing a turtle in a tree. Have you seen a turtle in a tree? Somebody put him there. That’s the whole thing, you know? He didn’t climb the tree, but he’s on the tree.”

“So if they want to give me an easy pass for the title shot, then Dan Hooker is easy money. Imagine if I take him down, what I’m gonna do to him! He has no ground game.”

“Patrick Pimblett is another easy money, but I respect him a little bit more,” Moicano added. “You know why? Because he has a lot of followers. If you have followers, you have my respect. People want to see Patrick Pimblett, and I respect him.”

Paddy Pimblett would certainly be a lucrative opponent and both men have been angling to fight for a while, potentially as the culmination of a coaching gig on The Ultimate Fighter. That matchmaking certainly beats fighting tough relative unknowns like Rafael Fiziev again, Moicano said.

“I cannot afford to lose,” he joked. “I’m telling everybody I have a house to pay. I just bought a new house. Dumb decision, but we don’t do decisions by head. We do by heart. I want to see my kid grow in a great backyard with a pool, and then I did that mistake. So until the house is paid, until all my debt is paid, I cannot afford to lose. Doesn’t matter if even Khabib come back, I will beat Khabib.”