UFC lightweight Renato Moicano has never shied away from speaking his mind, and during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, the Brazilian star laid out his views on politics and religion at length following his win over Chris Duncan.
Moicano explained that he once invested considerable time studying political theory but eventually reached a turning point in how he viewed the system.
“A long time ago I start to tap in politics and understand about what is democracy, what is a republic,” he said, reflecting on his earlier interest in political philosophy.
However, he noted that his perspective shifted dramatically over time. “But last year I realized it doesn’t matter who you vote for. That’s the truth,” he said. “Doesn’t matter, things going to get worse because the way democracy is built… people going to vote for populists.”
Moicano argued that political incentives reward promises rather than long-term solutions. “If you go over there and you say you’re going to give people free stuff, if you say to people that you’re gonna give them stuff and you keep promising and lying to them, you’re gonna get elected,” he said.
He then pointed to the U.S. national debt and the work of former congressman Ron Paul as examples of what he sees as a structural issue that transcends party lines. According to Moicano, both major political factions benefit from expanding government power.
“Every time that the state gets bigger, it gets growing,” he said. “Every side of the aisle likes that.”
He elaborated on how he believes different political groups justify that growth for their own reasons.
“Republicans like it because the government is big and can spend more money on the police departments, on army, on controlling the state,” he said. “And Democrats and liberals, they think that’s good because we’re going to increase social welfare, trying to help the poor.”
In his view, the ultimate burden falls on ordinary citizens. “And at the end of the day, the middle class American pays the price with inflation,” he said.
His conclusion about politics was blunt and personal. “What I realize is politics doesn’t matter,” he said. “Doesn’t matter who you vote.”
Moicano then used a metaphor to describe what he sees as limited choices within democratic systems. “There is a saying that you’re going to choose between Baal and Moloch,” he said. “That’s democracy. They give you a chance to di* drown or to d*e on the fire.”
From there, he pivoted directly to faith as what he believes is the only true alternative. “So I realize there is no escape,” he said. “The only escape is Jesus. The only escape is religion. The only escape is family.”
He explained that this realization has shaped how he approaches his life moving forward. “That’s why I realized I’m not going to vote for nobody,” he said. “I going to save myself, save my family, and spread the good news.”
Moicano made his religious conviction explicit in his closing message. “And the good news is Jesus can save you,” he said. “Government is a product of the devil.”
He also addressed why religion became the centerpiece of his post-match message, which he delivered during Passover week. For Moicano, faith now holds greater significance than his athletic career.
“This is more important than my combat career,” he said. “Right now I’m a figh ter, but soon I will not be a figh ter, but I will still be a father.”
He emphasized the long-term identity he sees for himself beyond the octagon. “I will still be a man of God, God willing, and I still want to spread the good news,” he said. “The faith keep me strong, especially on the fig ht week, and especially was Passover, the week that Jesus went through so much for us.”
Moicano then tied his religious convictions to his broader understanding of morality and society. “There is no justice without God,” he said. “Everything that we believe is good and moral and beautiful, it becomes because of God.”
He warned that without faith, people may place their trust in institutions instead. “I think it’s very important to believe in something,” he said, “otherwise you’re going to believe in this satanic state that wants to be worshipped by everybody.”
His final message on the subject was less about ideology and more about relationships. “Don’t fig ht with your family about politics because they are cut from the same cloth,” he said. “If they were good and if they wanted the good life for everybody, they will not be politicians.”
