Paddy PimblettChris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
- Beneil Dariush
- Dustin Poirier
- Paddy Pimblett
This likely isn’t the last big fight we will see Moicano in. Stepping in on short notice to keep Makhachev on the pay-per-view card isn’t going to be forgotten by the UFC.
That’s going to lead to at least one more major fight. If the UFC wants to give him another chance to earn a title fight, then it might mean running a bout against his original matchup. He was supposed to fight Beneil Dariush before the last-minute switch on the card.
Dariush has long been toward the top of the lightweight rankings and the winner would have a good case to be in a title eliminator if not a title fight.
If Moicano is more interested in just chasing a big name fight then Dustin Poirier could be on tap. The Diamond is still one of the biggest draws in the division and he’s also coming off a loss to Islam Makhachev.
A matchup between the two title challengers would give the winner significant momentum to getting back in line.
Then there’s Paddy Pimblett. Moicano and the British star have some history as Moicano called out Pimblett after his win over Benoit Saint Denis. The fight didn’t materialize back then, but it could be big business in 2025.
Pimblett continues to see his star on the rise and Moicano made a name for himself by taking this fight against the champion.
Perhaps getting his wish with a fight against Pimblett will be his reward for taking on the challenge.
