Renato 'Moicano' Carneiro Can’t Afford to Lose Despite Having Fought for the Title

😅💰 Renato Moicano says that in his last fight with Islam Makhachev he could afford to lose because he was getting a flat purse.

But now he cannot afford to lose again because he needs to get this win bonus for Beneil Dariush fight at UFC 317.

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🎥 @Home_of_Fight pic.twitter.com/ORLxhpLA1f

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 20, 2025

Renato "Money Moicano" Carneiro hasn’t lost any of his hunger even after fighting for the title. 

A fan favorite, Carneiro is loved for his precise one-liners and unabashedly honest opinions. Two of his iconic statements are that he wants easy fights and he cannot afford to lose, as he has a family to feed. 

However, that had slightly changed in his last fight, as he stepped up to 24 hours’ notice to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 311 after Arman Tsarukyan was forced out with an injury. Carneiro suffered a first-round defeat, which he admits he could afford, having fought on short notice. 

Carneiro received a flat purse of $250,000 (not including sponsorships or discretionary bonuses) for his fight against Makhachev. He has since set up a gym, Kingdom Martial Arts School in Coral Springs, Florida, which opens on May 31. However, with another baby on the way which will extend their family to four, Carneiro still can’t afford to lose. The Brazilian is scheduled to face Beneil Dariush at UFC 317 on June 28. Carneiro explained that he won’t be getting a flat purse this time and will return to the usual show/win structure which means only half his purse if he loses.

“Still no. Last fight I could afford to lose,” Carneiro told Home of Fight. “Because [it] was a short notice [fight] and I got [a] flat purse. Now I have to fight back [for] my double checks. I’m not f*—-ng losing.”

Carneiro predicts a stoppage win over Dariush. And his future plans remain the same: easy fights. 

“Easy money brother, I’m going over there, putting him on the ground, finishing him. Easy money… I want easy money, easy fights, so maybe Paddy Pimblett, maybe Michael Chandler who knows.”

“Moicano” was on a four-fight winning streak with three finishes before his loss against Makhachev. Meanwhile, Dariush is coming off consecutive first-round losses against Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. The 36-year-old also hasn’t fought since December 2023.