Tom Nolan used his latest UFC victory as a launchpad for a high-profile callout, targeting Renato Moicano after defeating Fares Ziam at UFC Fight Night 278 at Meta APEX.
Nolan improved his record to 11-1 in MMA and 5-1 in the UFC with a unanimous decision over Ziam, who entered the bout at 18-5 in MMA and 8-3 in the UFC. The rising 155-pound prospect then turned his attention to Moicano in his post-fight interview, and later expanded on the callout at the UFC Fight Night 278 post-fight press conference.
"I think Ziam was a really good challenge for me in the sense that it made me nervous. It was a hard fight," Nolan said, before laying out why Moicano is next on his mind. "I want another fight like that. All respect, not so easy money, 'Money' Moicano: That's a tough fight. I'm young enough. I'm 26. If I come out here and lose, the amount of wealth it will take from that (would be big). But I come out here and win, I'm looking at a top five."
Nolan emphasized the respect behind his callout, noting he has closely studied Moicano, including his fight with Benoit Saint Denis. "I've studied him a lot. I studied his fight against (Benoit Saint Denis) for my last fight... I think he's great. I've been watching him since I was a child. It's nothing but respect. I love that dude. He's cool."
