UFC Vegas 123: Moicano vs. Nolan headlines after three late card withdrawals

Three withdrawals reshaped the card in a week, yet the main event carries the most baggage. Renato Moicano was once booked against Brian Ortega, and that plan fell through after Ortega's training cut. Moicano says he turned down a third date in Qatar 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 and 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. His latest win was a decision over Fares Ziam in June. This is his first main event. The UFC ranks Moicano No. 12 and Nolan No. 14. 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 shot back: "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 says he wants Ilia Topuria. That is a wish, not a booking.

Behind the headliner, Azamat Bekoev left after an anaphylactic reaction, and Andre Petroski moved to UFC Vegas 124 on Nov. 7. Bolanos left his bout with Francis Marshall after a training cut, per Yardbarker MMA, and Marshall now meets Dakota Hope. Carlos Leal's leg injury opened the welterweight co-main for Jacobe Smith, a southpaw who knocked out Bruce Whitehead in round one at UFC 332. He has yet to get a full camp for a UFC fight and 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. Julian Erosa, 35, says he chose this fight as his last.

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.