UFC lightweight Renato Moicano fired back at critics who have labeled him “dumb” following his controversial decision to refuse settlement money from a class action lawsuit against the UFC.
In a heated moment during his appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Moicano took direct aim at comedian and former UFC contender Brendan Schaub’s comedy career while defending his intellectual capacity.
The Brazilian contender has faced widespread criticism after publicly announcing he turned down what could have been substantial compensation from the UFC’s $375 million settlement with fighters who competed between 2010 and 2017. Many in the MMA community questioned his decision, with some suggesting it was foolish to reject free money.
However, Moicano pushed back against these characterizations, particularly targeting those who have questioned his intelligence. “Sometimes when I’m doing the Show Me the Money podcast, I cannot articulate like that. I cannot say the things that I believe because it’s a one hour show and I have to be funny, you know,” Moicano explained. “I’m speaking on my second language and so that’s why I can understand why people clip and they say, ‘Hey, this guy is dumb.'”
The 36-year-old then launched into a critique of Schaub’s comedy abilities, stating: “If you think yourself as dumb, think the people that watch the Brandon Schaub show on YouTube, the comedian, the special, that’s f**king terrible. Okay, bro. Even I can do better than that f**king brother. And I don’t even speak English. And I can be and I can be funnier than you, my brother.”
Moicano’s refusal to accept the settlement money stems from his libertarian principles and belief in free market economics. He argued that taking the money would contradict his satisfaction with his original UFC contract terms. “When I sign a contract and I was happy, you cannot sue the company and you cannot say UFC is a monopoly,” he explained during the interview.
Moicano emphasized that his decision wasn’t motivated by a desire to curry favor with the UFC, stating he “could not care less about UFC” as a business entity. Instead, he framed his choice as a matter of personal integrity and consistency with his philosophical beliefs about government intervention and individual responsibility.
Despite facing backlash from fans and fellow competitors, Moicano remained defiant about his stance. He acknowledged that people from the UFC contacted him after his announcement, encouraging him to take the money. However, he maintained his position regardless of external pressure.
While Moicano’s decision has drawn criticism, his willingness to stand by his principles has also earned respect from some quarters.
