Renato Moicano headlines a Halloween fight card on October 31 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The Brazilian lightweight meets Tom Nolan of Australia, who is unbeaten in his last five fights and takes his first UFC main event on short notice.
A Replacement Turned Headliner
Moicano was originally booked against Brian Ortega, who withdrew on September 14 after video surfaced showing him with a cut, with the promotion citing injury. The UFC moved quickly to install Nolan as the new opponent, giving the Australian his first UFC headlining slot barely six weeks out from fight night. Moicano, now 21-7-1, enters his fourth UFC main event and second headlining assignment of 2026. Known for his submission game and his willingness to take risks on the feet, the Brasilia native remains an established name in the division and a former title challenger. Of his 21 career wins, 11 have come by submission, against 2 by knockout and 8 by decision, according to his official UFC record. Ranked No. 12 at lightweight, a win on October 31 would put him back in the conversation for a fight against the top half of the ranked field.
Tom Nolan’s Biggest Test
Nolan, 11-1 and ranked No. 14 at 155 pounds (70 kilograms), trains out of Team Compton Training Centre. He stands 6 feet 3 inches (191 centimeters) with a 73-inch (185-centimeter) reach, an unusual frame for the division that gives him a length advantage over most opponents. His most recent win came over French contender Fares Ziam, extending his streak to five straight victories, the longest run of his professional career. Against Moicano, he gets his first UFC main event after months without a booking, and a signature win would make him a credible top-10 candidate heading into 2027.
A Late Change at Welterweight
The featured welterweight bout also changed shape ahead of fight night. Carlos Leal withdrew from his matchup with Randy Brown in early October, citing an undisclosed injury that his camp did not detail. Jacobe Smith, a standout from Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8 who beat Bruce Whitehead at UFC 332 in his promotional debut, steps in on short notice for his second fight in the UFC. Brown, a longtime fixture on Las Vegas cards, remains one of the division’s most durable names despite never having cracked the official rankings.
The Rest of the Card
The October 31 lineup includes several other storylines. Unbeaten Slovakian Lucia Szabova, 10-0, makes her UFC debut against Tainara Lisboa at women’s flyweight. American welterweight Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani, 11-2, faces Azerbaijan’s Farman Hasanov, while Rodrigo Sezinando, a finalist on The Ultimate Fighter Season 33, meets Sweden’s Theodor Berggren in the same division. New Jersey’s Mickey Gall returns to the Octagon after nearly two years away against Zachary Reese, and Las Vegas native Ode Osbourne takes on Cody Durden at flyweight. Brazil’s Talita Alencar fights in the card’s lone strawweight bout, against Piera Rodriguez, and featherweights Julian Erosa and JeongYeong Lee round out the promotion’s announced lineup.
No Title on the Line, but Rankings Weight
No belt is at stake on October 31, but where Moicano and Nolan sit in the lightweight rankings gives the main event real stakes for the rest of the season. The division is led by champion Justin Gaethje, ahead of Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira. Moicano, at No. 12, and Nolan, at No. 14, both sit in the back half of the top 15, within reach of a higher-ranked opponent with a clear win. Moicano sits directly behind No. 11 Rafael Fiziev and ahead of No. 13 Dan Hooker, while Nolan sits one spot above No. 15 Beneil Dariush. Dana White suggested in the days after UFC 333 that a fight between Gaethje and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is already under consideration, which puts extra scrutiny on every result further down the division.
UFC officials have listed the main card for 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on October 31. The card streams live on Paramount+ in the United States. The UFC’s full 2026 schedule is tracked at mma-official.com. No American fighter appears in the top two bouts, but Lebosnoyani, fighting out of the United States, gives the undercard a US-born name worth watching heading into the holiday weekend.
