Renato Moicano surprised everyone after revealing that he had fought with a serious shoulder injury during his UFC Paris match against Benoit Saint-Denis. Although the Brazilian showed absolute dominance in the octagon, winning by TKO due to a medical stoppage, what really shocked fans was the later confession: Moicano entered the fight without being physically at 100%.

The Shoulder Injury: A Hidden Obstacle

Days after his victory, Moicano revealed that he had been dealing with a shoulder injury that compromised his ability to train and strike normally. The severity of the injury was enough to make anyone doubt, but Moicano chose not to withdraw from the fight. "I knew I wasn't well, but I wasn't going to let that stop me," he mentioned in an interview.

Despite the pain, the Brazilian executed an almost perfect fight plan. From the first round, he dominated Saint-Denis with precision and aggression, using a variety of strikes and takedowns that eventually led to the medical stoppage of the fight. All of this happened without even his team or the UFC doctors detecting the severity of his injury.

Overcoming and Risk

Moicano knew that competing with an injury of that magnitude was risky, but he was not willing to lose the opportunity to shine on a stage as big as UFC Paris. "I felt every strike in my shoulder, but I couldn’t stop," he admitted after the fight. Despite the constant pain, there were no visible signs in his performance that indicated he was injured, which made his performance even more impressive.

What's Next for Moicano?

It is still unclear how long it will take for Moicano to fully recover from the shoulder injury. What is evident is that his ability to fight at a high level, even when physically compromised, makes him an exceptional and mentally strong fighter.

This victory marks a new chapter in his career, not only because of the way he defeated his opponent but also because of the revelation that he fought while injured—something that puts him in a different category within the UFC. Moicano has proven that, even injured, he is capable of taking down anyone in his path.