During a recent interview, UFC lightweight contender Renato Moicano disclosed that his last-minute replacement main event against champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 earned him a substantial payday exceeding $950,000.
The Brazilian, who stepped in to face Makhachev after original opponent Arman Tsarukyan withdrew due to a back injury, indicated his earnings were significantly higher than the initially reported $250,000 base salary.
During the interview, when asked about his compensation, Moicano was presented with an “over/under” estimate of nine Bitcoin (approximately $936,000 at current market rates). The Brazilian confirmed his earnings were “over” that amount, suggesting his total compensation surpassed $950,000.
This disclosure adds an interesting dimension to the UFC 311 payment structure, where official reports had listed both Makhachev and Moicano at $250,000 for their main event clash. The championship bout ended with Makhachev securing a first-round victory via D’Arce choke.
The event’s reported payouts had initially sparked discussion within the MMA community, as co-main event winner Merab Dvalishvili was listed as the highest-paid athlete of the night with $550,000. However, Moicano’s revelation suggests that potential pay-per-view points and other bonuses, significantly altered the final compensation figures.
According to UFC CEO Dana White, the last-minute change in opponents may have actually increased pay-per-view sales, as fans were intrigued by the unexpected matchup. “Somebody told me that after Arman pulled out, they sell even more pay-per-views because everybody was exciting about that… that was something different,” White stated.
This payout represents one of the more substantial disclosed earnings for a short-notice replacement in recent UFC history, highlighting the potential financial upside for athletes willing to step in under challenging circumstances.
