Moicano (21-7) was scheduled to welcome Ortega (16-5) to the

Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight division at UFC
331 on Sept. 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. However,
the matchup fell through five days before fight night after Ortega
suffered a cut above his eye in training, which required
stitches.

Moicano, who now has a new assignment for a later date, recently
addressed Ortega's pull-out.

Renato Moicano unloads on Brian Ortega after their UFC 331
fight falls apart

Moicano will now fight surging prospect Tom Nolan
(11-1) in the main event of a
Fight Night on Oct. 31 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The Brazilian
recently went off on Ortega for pulling out of the matchup,
revealing that he's frustrated as he missed out on what he viewed
as a favorable matchup.

“Ortega chickened out,†Moicano said on his YouTube channel.
“Something I never expected whatsoever. Quite simply, the easiest
fight in the division just slipped right through my fingers. And I
was pissed, I was angry, but there's nothing I can do about it. If
you're watching this video, it's because I'm not going to fight at
UFC 331, unfortunately, because of this son of a b*tch, because of
this guy who's always pulling out.â€

Ortega has previously pulled out of a matchup against Moicano
scheduled for this past March. The latter further notes that the
former featherweight title challenger also missed weight for his
last fight against Aljamain
Sterling last year.

Moicano believes Ortega has lost all credibility after pulling out
of consecutive fights and claims that “T-City†blamed his breakup
with fellow UFC fighter Tracy
Cortez for missing weight against Sterling.

“Nobody is ever going to trust you again,†Moicano added. “Who's
going to want to fight Brian Ortega? He already missed weight
against Sterling; he's had all kinds of problems. I didn't want to
bring these personal things up here, but in interviews he said it
was Tracy Cortez's fault, that Tracy Cortez was making his life
miserable, that he was having problems because of that. And now,
over the last two years, over the last three years, what's the
problem? I'm asking, but I want you to go f*ck yourself. I don't
even want to know.â€

Abdullaev (14-0) took on Ednilson
Barros Santos (14-8-1) in a lightweight matchup on
Week 6 of
Dana White's Contender Series 2026. He knocked Santos out with
a vicious right hand in just 19 seconds to earn a UFC contract.

Akbar Abdullaev wants a quick UFC debut after stopping Ednilson
Barros Santos

The undefeated prospect with a 100% finishing rate became the first
Kyrgyz fighter to earn a UFC contract on DWCS. UFC CEO Dana
White later hailed Abdullaev as possibly the greatest prospect
in DWCS history.

Abdullaev says he was ready for everything going into his DWCS
opportunity. He had always dreamed of a UFC career, irrespective of
whether he earned a direct contract or went through the Contender
Series. Eager to start his UFC career, the 28-year-old wants to
make his debut within a couple of months.

“This was my place; I was ready for everything,†Abdullaev said in
a post-fight interview. “I happen to be a part of the UFC. It
wasn't important to me how to get here, through the Contender
Series, just a straight contract or any other way. I dreamed of
being here and I am here… I'm hungry; give me fights, I'm ready to
fight in October or November.â€

Week 6 of
Dana White's Contender Series featured four new additions to
the
Ultimate Fighting Championship roster.

This brings the total number of contract winners in Season 10 of
DWCS to 28, the most ever at this stage of a season.

DWCS Season 10 Week 6 recap and contract winners

Tyshawn
Williams (9-0) and Antonio
Monteiro (18-6) started the action with a featherweight bout.
Williams earned a unanimous decision win after three rounds of
back-and-forth action. While UFC CEO Dana
White didn't see enough to grant Williams a UFC contract, he
invited the undefeated prospect for another DWCS opportunity.

“Tyshawn, I actually really liked your fight and I like you,†White
said. “You fought a tough guy with a lot of experience. If you're
up for it, what I would like to do is bring you back again. I
talked to Sean about it, like for you to come back and fight in the
Contender Series again.â€

Luis
Hernandez (8-0) took on Hugo
Guillon (7-2) in a middleweight tilt. Hernandez survived a
knockdown and a submission attempt in the second round to make
Guillon tap out just moments later. White gave the Miami-Dade
Sheriff's Office deputy a UFC contract for his come-from-behind
victory.

“Luis, I loved this fight,†White said. “Two dogs blasting each
other with big shots… Both of you guys were in trouble; you
overcame big punches, being tired, submission attempts, to get the
finish. Incredible fight. I absolutely loved it. Welcome to the
UFC.â€

Akbar Abdullaev scores 19-second knockout as four fighters earn
UFC contracts at DWCS Week 6

Akbar
Abdullaev (14-0) took on Ednilson
Barros Santos (14-8) in a lightweight matchup. Abdullaev lived
up to his hype, taking just 19 seconds to knock Santos out while
still on his feet. White believes the Kyrgyz prospect with a 100%
finishing rate might be the greatest in DWCS history.

“Akbar, I don't even know what to say to you,†White said. “That
punch sounded like a baseball bat. I'm gonna go out on a limb here
and I'm gonna call you possibly the greatest talent that has been
on this show in 10 years. I think that you are going to be a huge
superstar and a very big threat in this sport. I can't wait to see
you fight again. Welcome to the UFC.â€

Igor
Cavalcanti (14-2) took on Oscar
Ravello in a middleweight bout. Cavalcanti took just 98 seconds
to take Ravello to the ground and finish him with heavy
ground-and-pound.

“Igor, total and absolute violence,†White said. “Couldn't have
performed better against a very, very Revello. Congratulations,
welcome to the UFC.â€

Mayton
Perea took on Zevan Hunt
in the main event. Ecuador's Perea took just 45 seconds to knock
out the previously undefeated Hunt with a vicious volley of
punches.

“Mayton, you took out an undefeated guy in 45 seconds,†White said.
“Congratulations and welcome to the UFC.â€