UFC Halloween Preview: Renato Moicano vs Tom Nolan and Fights to Watch

Headlining at the Meta Apex on Saturday, 31 October, are a pair of ranked lightweights, with Renato Moicano defending his position against rising contender Tom Nolan, who is aiming to break into the top 10 of the UFC's most prestigious division.

Veteran Renato Moicano faces rising contender Tom Nolan as he defends his place in the rankings.

Moicano returned to winning ways in April this year after a torrid 2025 for the Brazilian. He submitted Scotsman Chris Duncan in the second round in the main event of a Meta Apex showing.

The 20-fight UFC veteran will need to utilise his superior grappling to earn victory against another contender gunning for his ranking.

Even though Moicano is 11 years his senior, he has used that experience to tear through rising prospects, with his most impressive win coming back in 2024 against Benoit Saint Denis in his home nation of France.

For Tom Nolan, this is his biggest test to date in the UFC. With an 11-1 record, he has earned his place in the rankings. Now, it's his time to attempt ascension.

After a UFC debut defeat in 2024, Nolan has tied together five straight wins, with his most recent coming against highly touted talent Fares Ziam in a matchup where he was the underdog.

The Australian has moved over to New Zealand to level up his skills and training at one of the sport's most well-respected gyms, City Kickboxing.

In the co-main event, the veteran vs prospect matchmaking continues.

Randy Brown debuted in the UFC 10 years ago and is now 22 fights deep into his UFC tenure. He comes into this weekend on a two-fight losing streak for the first time in his professional career.

At 36 years old, his position feels very much cemented as a gatekeeper in the welterweight division. However, another defeat could unfairly spell the end of his UFC tenure altogether.

Opposing the Jamaican veteran is American prospect Jacobe Smith.

The wrestling-heavy star is now 13-0 with four UFC bouts under his belt. Brown provides a stern test in comparison to his recent competition.

He last stepped into the Octagon only a few weeks ago and earned a swift TKO victory. Will the quick turnaround play a part in the biggest fight of his UFC career so far on Saturday night?

Luana Santos vs Yana Santos

Fan favourite Luana Santos faces the experienced Russian Yana Santos on the main card, as both women hope to extend their three-fight winning streaks.

The women's bantamweight division is due to have its long-awaited title bout at UFC 334, with Kayla Harrison finally facing the widely regarded GWOAT Amanda Nunes at Madison Square Garden.

Following that bout, new blood must be brought into the title picture, and the victor of this weekend's matchup could well feature heavily in the division's future.

Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani vs Farman Hasanov

Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani will make his third walk to the UFC Octagon this weekend against Farman Hasanov.

Lebosnoyani has quickly become a popular fighter in the 170lbs division, with impressive victories over Phil Rowe and Seok Hyeon Ko earlier this year.

Hasanov is only 5-0, and the Azerbaijani won his debut in June at UFC Baku.

Lucie Szabova vs Tainara Lisboa

Kicking off the main card is a future female star in the flyweight division.

The Slovakian striker, Lucie Szabova, rose to stardom in superb European organisation Oktagon, becoming bantamweight champion last year.

She enters the UFC with a 12-0 record, with her last win coming against former UFC fighter Lucie Pudilova.

Szabova has a 75% finish rate, which is excellent within the women's divisions, and with an already healthy-looking MMA record, she could well find herself climbing the rankings at a rapid pace soon.

Aiming to halt the hype is battle-tested Tainara Lisboa.

The Brazilian is 2-2 in the UFC, coming into this fight with back-to-back losses, both coming via finish.

Lisboa is certainly at risk of being cut if she does not return to winning ways. If she does against such a touted prospect, she could give herself plenty more time under the UFC banner.

With established veterans defending their positions and rising prospects looking to announce themselves, UFC Halloween offers plenty of intriguing matchups.

For Tom Nolan, the biggest test of his career awaits against Renato Moicano, while several other fighters have the opportunity to take significant steps forward in their respective divisions.