UFC main event stopped after brutal beatdown, social media reacts

Renato Moicano defeats Benoît Saint Denis after doctor's stoppage at UFC Paris following brutal first-round damage.

The Octagon-side doctor in Paris had seen enough and stepped in to halt the main event between Renato Moicano and hometown favorite Benoit Saint Denis.

Saint Denis' right eye had swollen shut from a barrage of vicious ground-and-pound strikes in the first round, prompting the doctor to stop the fight before the third round began.

Interestingly, Saint Denis managed to rally in the second round, showing signs of recovery and even winning the frame.

However, the brutal damage he took in the first round left him with a steep battle ahead. Known as the "God of War," Saint Denis looked every bit the warrior after his clash with Moicano, emerging battered and bruised from the intense bout.

After the fight concluded, many in the MMA community took to X to share their thoughts.

ESPN MMA highlighted the extent of the damage inflicted by Moicano, posting a striking before-and-after image of Saint Denis, showcasing the brutal effects of just one round.

Alex Behunin drew comparisons to Benoit Saint Denis' brutal loss against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos in October 2021.

In that fight, referee Vyacheslav Kiselev allowed Saint Denis to endure far more punishment than necessary, as dos Santos dominated him for most of the first round.

Commentators Daniel Cormier, Paul Felder, and Jon Anik were pleading for the fight to be stopped. Despite taking significant damage, much like in his bout with Moicano, Saint Denis managed a brief comeback, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory.

Behunin referred to both defeats as “horrendous beatings.”

Saint Denis is known for his toughness, a reputation built on his background in France’s special forces, which adds to his mystique.

However, with multiple stoppage defeats piling up and the extensive damage he's sustained, concerns are growing about his long-term future in the sport.

It might be time for his team to seriously consider his well-being beyond the Octagon.

Here are the full results from UFC Paris:

• Renato Moicano def. Benoît Saint Denis via TKO at 5:00 of Round 3

• Nassourdine Imavov def. Brendan Allen via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

• William Gomis def. Joanderson Brito via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

• Bryan Battle def. Kevin Jousset via TKO at 3:47 of Round 2

• Morgan Charriere def. Gabriel Miranda via KO at 0:27 of Round 2

• Fares Ziam def. Matt Frevola via KO at 2:59 of Round 3

• Ion Cutelaba def. Ivan Erslan via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

• Oumar Sy def. Jung Da-woon via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

• Ľudovit Klein def. Roosevelt Roberts via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

• Taylor Lapilus def. Vince Morales via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

• Ailín Pérez def. Daria Zheleznyakova via submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) at 3:52 of Round 1

• Daniel Barez def. Victor Altamirano via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

• Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Nora Cornolle via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

• Chris Duncan def. Bolaji Oki via submission (Guillotine) at 3:34 of Round 1