Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen anymore.
Ortega withdrew from the lightweight bout due to an undisclosed injury. UFC officials made the announcement Monday. The return schedule of “T-City” has not been provided.
The two first met at UFC 214 in 2017, creating an exciting fight that earned the honor of “Fight of the Night.” All three judges had the fight a draw two rounds before Ortega secured a third-round guillotine chokehanding Moicano the first loss of his professional career.
Nine years later, their rivalry remains unresolved.
Moicano will not be in the UFC 331 lineup. Instead, “Money” has been moved into a five-round main event against the No. 11 ranked lightweight. Tom Nolan at UFC Vegas 123 on Halloween (Saturday, October 31, 2026) at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Moicano (21-7-1) snapped a two-fight losing streak in his most recent outing by submitting the Scot. Chris Duncan In the main event of UFC Vegas 115 (watch the highlights). Prior to that win, “Money” took a unanimous decision Beneil Dariush after losing the lightweight title on short notice Islam Makhachov.
Nolan (11-1), meanwhile, is riding a five-fight winning streak after suffering a brutal knockout loss in his UFC debut. The 26-year-old Australian is coming off the biggest win of his career, beating a then-ranked contender Price Ziam declare himself a legitimate player at 155 lbs.
Now, Nolan gets his first UFC main event and a chance to add the biggest name yet to his rapidly improving resume.
UFC Vegas 123 currently looks like this:
Renato Moicano vs. Tom Nolan
Yana Santos vs. Luana Santos
Julian Erosa vs. JeongYeong Lee
Andre Petroski vs. Azamat Bekoev
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani vs. Farman Hasanov
Francis Marshall Vs. Gaston Bolanos
Nick Klein Vs. Joe Kropschot
Rodrigo Sezinando vs. Theodor Berggren
Tainara Lisboa vs Lucia Szabova
Ortega vs. Moicano’s removal leaves UFC 331 with 12 fights, while the heavyweight bout Gable Steveson and Old Sharaf has been promoted to the main map.
As for Ortega vs. Moicano 2, maybe the third booking will finally be the charm.
Then maybe this rematch is just cursed.
Click for a schedule of upcoming UFC events here.
