Brian Ortega out of UFC 331; Renato Moicano gets new opponent

Brian Ortega's withdrawal from UFC 331 due to a deep cut above his left eye has triggered a cascade of changes: the scheduled September 19 main card bout against Renato Moicano is off, and "Money" Moicano has been rebooked to headline a UFC Fight Night event on October 31 in Las Vegas against Tom Nolan.

Ortega, making his UFC lightweight debut, required stitches for the injury and announced his pullout on social media. "I have to pull out of the fight because of the stitches in my eye," he wrote, noting that he had made weight and completed what he described as one of his best training camps. The timing is unfortunate for a fighter ready to compete at his new weight class.

Moicano's new assignment places him atop the UFC Fight Night card at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, a meaningful billing that keeps the Brazilian momentum intact despite the disruption. UFC 331 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles will proceed on September 19 with 12 bouts. Joshua Van will defend his UFC flyweight championship against former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch of their previous encounter, which ended after just 26 seconds when Pantoja suffered an early arm injury. The main card will now open with Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf.

Cut-related withdrawals are common in combat sports; even minor lacerations near the eye can prevent competition if they require stitches, as the skin remains vulnerable to reopening under the stress of fighting. Ortega's decision reflects standard medical caution in a sport where facial cuts can escalate quickly.