UFC Vegas 123: Moicano meets Nolan in main event after three late withdrawals

The main event is not the one first planned. Renato Moicano was to meet Brian Ortega, and that fight fell through after Ortega's training cut. Moicano says UFC then offered a third date in Qatar and he turned it down because he no longer trusted Ortega to show up. Tom Nolan took the fight, and it became a five-round headliner.

Moicano, 37, is 21-7-1. He returned to the win column in April with a second-round rear-naked choke of Chris Duncan, ending a slide after losses to Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush. Nolan, 26, is 11-1 and has won five straight since Nikolas Motta stopped him in his UFC debut, most recently by decision over Fares Ziam in June. This is his first main event. UFC ranks Moicano No. 12 and Nolan No. 14, and listed measurements give Nolan a four-inch height edge but only one inch of reach.

The week has been loud. Nolan called Moicano a childhood hero at media day, and Moicano answered: "I don't want compliments. I want money." He told MMA Fighting he has three fights left on his contract and would like to try free agency afterward. If he wins he wants Ilia Topuria, a wish and not a booking.

Behind the headliner, Azamat Bekoev left after an anaphylactic reaction and Andre Petroski moved to UFC Vegas 124. Bolanos left his bout with Francis Marshall after a training cut, according to Yardbarker MMA, and Marshall now meets Dakota Hope. Carlos Leal's leg injury opened the co-main for Jacobe Smith, who has yet to get a full camp for any of his UFC fights. He wants two or three Top 15 opponents in 2027, then a title shot early in 2028.

The undercard has its own stories. Lucia Szabova, the former OKTAGON bantamweight and flyweight champion, makes her UFC debut against Tainara Lisboa. Yana Santos, who has won three straight by decision, meets Luana Santos on the main card. Erosa, 35, says he chose this fight as his last, while Lee, on a two-fight skid, says he left Fight Ready and will make weight after missing it in March.

Prelims start Sat, Oct 31, 5 p.m. ET (21:00 UTC) and the main card follows at Sat, Oct 31, 8 p.m. ET (00:00 UTC). Watch for any further late changes before then.