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Brian Ortega out of UFC 331 fight, Renato Moicano to headline UFC Vegas 123 against surging contender

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Brian Ortega out of UFC 331 fight, Renato Moicano to headline UFC Vegas 123 against surging contender

UFC 331 this weekend has taken a hit as Brian Ortega is out of his lightweight fight against Renato Moicano.

Ortega and Moicano were set to rematch in a fun fight. The two fought back at UFC 214 in 2017, with Ortega winning by submission and winning the Fight of the Night Award.

Now, over eight years later, the two were supposed to rematch, but this time at lightweight in a pivotal fight for both of their careers as they are both looking to remain in the title picture. Yet, just days before UFC 331, Ortega was forced out of the bout due to an injury, the UFC announced.

Ortega hasn't fought since August of 2025 when he dropped a decision to Aljamain Sterling. He's on a two-fight losing skid and is 1-4 in his last five.

Although Ortega is out of the bout, Moicano was also removed from the card, as a short-notice opponent wasn't found. Instead, the UFC announced that Moicano will headline UFC Vegas 123 on October 31 against surging lightweight contender Tom Nolan.

“As a result, Moicano will now face No. 11 ranked contender Tom Nolan in the main event of UFC FIGHT NIGHT taking place on October 31 at Meta APEX in Las Vegas. Moicano steps into his fourth UFC main event looking for another signature stoppage victory as he takes on the rising Australian Nolan who is on an impressive five-fight win streak,†the UFC wrote in a press release.

Moicano is coming off a submission win over Chris Duncan to return to the win column. Nolan, meanwhile, is ranked 14th in the UFC's lightweight division.

With Moicano vs. Ortega off UFC 331, the card is as follows:

UFC 331

  • Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja – for flyweight title
  • Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy
  • Patricio Pitbull vs. Doo Ho Choi
  • Iwo Baraniewski vs. Alonzo Menifield
  • Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf
  • Charles Jourdain vs. Marlon Vera
  • Tai Tuivasa vs. Robelis Despaigne
  • Michael Aswell Jr. vs. Joo Sang Yoo
  • Ryan Gandra vs. Ozzy Diaz
  • Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Brunno Ferreira
  • Casey O'Neill vs. Eduarda Moura
  • Giga Chikadze vs. Joanderson Brito

Stay locked to BJPENN.com all week for your UFC 331 coverage.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM


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MMA

Scott Coker unveils Ki MMA, 32-fighter global grand prix format

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Scott Coker unveils Ki MMA, 32-fighter global grand prix format

Scott Coker has officially unveiled the name and format of his new
mixed martial arts promotion.

Ki MMA will launch in the first quarter of 2027 under Coker and
Peter Y. Levin, with events planned across North America, Europe,
Asia and South America. The organization had previously announced
plans for a new global league backed by Coker, with a tournament
format central to the project.

Scott Coker and Peter Y. Levin detail Ki MMA’s 2027 launch and
World Grand Prix

Coker and Levin shared the details about the new promotion via a
press release. The inaugural Ki MMA World Grand Prix will feature
32 featherweights divided into four eight-man continental
tournaments. Each regional tournament will use a single-elimination
format, with the four continental champions advancing to a
one-night World Grand Prix Final.

The final event will feature two semifinals followed by the
championship bout, so the inaugural Ki MMA champion will need to
win five fights.

“We're giving fighters across four continents a clear path to
becoming our first World Grand Prix champion,†Coker said. “We want
to build stars while staying true to the discipline, character and
respect that drew us to martial arts in the first place.â€

Additionally, Ki MMA will feature “Super Fights†involving
established fighters, along with additional bouts across multiple
weight classes. All fights will take place inside a ring.

“We're building Ki MMA for the long term, with the resources, team,
and discipline to grow responsibly,†Levin added.

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MMA

Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title amid ongoing eye issues

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Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title amid ongoing eye issues
Tom
Aspinall has vacated the
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title due to ongoing
complications from an eye injury that has sidelined him for nearly
a year.

Aspinall hasn't competed since his bout against Ciryl Gane
ended in a no contest last October. Gane accidentally poked him in
both eyes and the Brit subsequently underwent multiple eye
procedures. He still hasn’t received medical clearance to return to
the Octagon and has opted to relinquish the championship.

Tom Aspinall explains why he relinquished the UFC heavyweight
championship

Aspinall took to Instagram to share a lengthy message announcing
his decision to vacate the title amid recent complications with his
right eye. The former champion revealed that he had previously
agreed to a fight date and resumed sparring before an accident
caused further damage.

“I had previously agreed to a fight date and was back sparring,
feeling great and ready to compete when an accident caused further
damage to my right eye,†Aspinall wrote on Instagram. “Ongoing
complications with my eyes mean I cannot get medically cleared to
fight right now. I've had multiple surgeries, accidents, and
infections, and done everything possible to get back to
competing.â€

Rather than further stalling the heavyweight division, Aspinall has
opted to give up his belt.

“I've now made the decision to vacate the heavyweight title,â€
Aspinall added. “I've asked the UFC to allow me to make this
statement because I don't want to hold the heavyweight division up.
I know what it's like to have your career put on hold, and I want
the other fighters to have the opportunity to compete for the
title.â€

Aspinall also clarified in his post that he isn't walking away from
the sport and looks forward to returning to action.

“I'll be back as soon as I'm medically able to be,†Aspinall wrote.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this
absolute nightmare.â€

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MMA

Brian Ortega out of UFC 331; Renato Moicano gets new opponent

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Brian Ortega out of UFC 331; Renato Moicano gets new opponent
Renato
“Money†Moicano vs. Brian
Ortega is no longer part of the upcoming
Ultimate Fighting Championship numbered event.

Ortega has suffered an injury, forcing the cancellation of the bout
scheduled for UFC
331 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sept. 19. While
“T-City†nurses his injury, Moicano has a new matchup and will now
headline a Fight Night in Las Vegas in October.

Brian Ortega's injury cancels Moicano fight before UFC 331

After his bout with Ortega was pulled from UFC 331, Moicano's next
opponent was announced. The Brazilian is now set to face Tom Nolan in
the main event of the
UFC Fight Night card on Oct. 31 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

Ortega took to social media to reveal details of his injury. A deep
cut has forced him out of his UFC lightweight debut and he had to
get stitches above his left eye.

“I have to pull out of the fight because of the stitches in my
eye,†Ortega wrote on Instagram. “I'm on weight, I've been training
my *ss off, and this has honestly been one of the best camps I've
ever had.â€

UFC 331 now has 12 fights on deck, with Gable
Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf
now opening the main card. Joshua Van
vs. Alexandre
Pantoja 2 headlines UFC 331, with Van defending the UFC
flyweight championship against the former champ in a rematch after
an anticlimactic ending to their first meeting, in which Pantoja
suffered an early arm injury.


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