From Toowoomba To UFC Spotlight: Tom Nolan's Journey To The Main Event

News sports other-sports From Toowoomba To UFC Spotlight: Tom Nolan's Journey To The Main Event

Last Updated:October 31, 2026, 13:22 IST

Ahead of UFC Fight Night, Tom Nolan tells News18 how a debut defeat shaped his career, why he moved to New Zealand and what facing Renato Moicano means to him.

Australian lightweight Tom Nolan is set to face Renato Moicano in the main event of UFC Fight Night at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, marking the biggest fight of the 26-year-old’s UFC career. Nolan enters the contest on a five-fight winning streak, having recovered from a first-round stoppage loss in his UFC debut against Nikolas Motta in January 2024, and will now face a seasoned opponent who has competed against some of the leading fighters in the lightweight division.

The bout marks Nolan’s first UFC main event, offering him an opportunity to test his progress against a fighter with considerably more experience at the top level.

Nolan’s journey to the UFC began in Toowoomba, a small town in Queensland, Australia, where he grew up playing rugby league before developing an interest in martial arts. The similarities between tackling opponents in rugby league and controlling them on the ground led him towards Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which became the foundation of his development as a fighter. He began training in MMA at 14, competed in Jiu-Jitsu tournaments across Australia and gradually found his rhythm in the sport, eventually moving towards professional mixed martial arts.

The Australian’s rise has involved several changes in the way he approaches training, fight preparation and the mental demands of competition, with Nolan acknowledging that the fighter who suffered the defeat against Motta is considerably different from the one preparing to enter the Octagon against Moicano. He has also made a significant change outside the Octagon, moving to New Zealand and training at City Kickboxing, where he now works with multiple coaches and has been able to focus more directly on MMA preparation.

Speaking to News18 ahead of his latest bout, Nolan discussed his childhood in Australia, the lessons he took from his UFC debut, the evolution of his training camp and his approach to facing Moicano, while explaining why the opportunity to compete at the highest level carries a responsibility to inspire others who come from similar backgrounds.

Lesson From First Setback

Nolan’s UFC debut against Nikolas Motta ended in a first-round stoppage loss, a result that forced him to reassess several aspects of his preparation and approach to fighting, although he now views the experience as an important part of his development. He says the defeat came at a stage when he was still young and inexperienced, and the years that followed have allowed him to make changes that have helped him become a more complete fighter.

“I’m no longer 23. That was a young, excited, inexperienced version of myself. And, you know, three years have passed, five wins have passed. And a lot of things have changed in my life. Yeah. I’ve changed the way that I train. I’ve changed the way that I approach the game mentally. I’ve changed the way I approach my weight cutting and how I make weight. I’ve changed the way I approach fight week. Pretty much everything has grown and adapted since that loss," Nolan tells News18.

Nolan’s winning streak includes victories over Victor Martinez, Alex Reyes, Viacheslav Borshchev, Charlie Campbell and Farès Ziam, with the win against Ziam in June this year being his most recent outing before the Moicano matchup. His professional record stands at 11 wins and one defeat.

While the defeat must have stung, Nolan sees the loss to Motta as a “necessary lesson".

“Yeah, obviously, losing is a hard pill to swallow and I had to go back and work on some things," Nolan said, “But like I’ve been telling pretty much every interviewer since that day, I’m no longer 23. That was a young, excited, inexperienced version of myself. And, three years have passed, five wins have passed. And a lot of things have changed in my life. Yeah. I’ve changed the way that I train. I’ve changed the way that I approach the game mentally. I’ve changed the way I approach my weight cutting and how I make weight. I’ve changed the way I approach fight week. Pretty much everything has grown and adapted since that loss. So, I like to think of it as a great lesson that has kind of aided my career and a necessary lesson that was needed and would have happened eventually."

Training In New Zealand

Nolan’s preparation for Moicano has involved a move to New Zealand, where he has joined City Kickboxing, with the change allowing him to work with multiple coaches and focus more directly on MMA rather than coordinating his preparation across different gyms and disciplines. The change, he says, has made a considerable difference to his training camp, which he considers the most well-rounded preparation of his UFC career.

“I’ve just moved over to New Zealand, so obviously this camp has looked completely different to my previous camps in the UFC. But yeah, every camp looks different because I’m always upgrading, I’m always evolving. I’m not one of these fighters who kind of gets stuck in the in their ways or stuck in the mud. I’m always trying to keep getting better and upgrading all my areas in martial arts and working on my strong suits, but also working on areas where I’m not as good and trying to make them a strong suit," Nolan said.

The move has also reduced the responsibility of managing his own preparation, with Nolan explaining that having multiple coaches overseeing his training has allowed him to concentrate on the work required for the fight.

“This time around, it’s been a blessing because I have multiple coaches looking after my camp and my training. I don’t have to do so much research myself this time around. And I don’t have to coordinate the camp and go between gyms and working fewer martial arts. It’s just I’m not going from wrestling to boxing. I’m now just MMA and that’s it. So this camp has been my most well-rounded and looked after camp, which is very good timing for the fight I’m about to have," he said.

The Moicano Challenge

Moicano represents a significant challenge for Nolan, with the Brazilian bringing years of UFC experience and a well-rounded skill set into the main event. A former lightweight title challenger, Moicano has established himself among the division’s leading contenders and will be a difficult opponent for a rising fighter looking to establish himself among the elite.

Nolan, however, believes his physical attributes and hunger to become a champion could prove decisive in the matchup, while acknowledging the respect he has for Moicano’s abilities.

“Well, all fights are like that, are they not?" Nolan wonders. “I have to prepare for specific skillsets of every single opponent. Yeah, this guy brings a lot of experience. But if I’m looking at this fight through a lens of a fan, it’s quite exciting. But if I’m looking at it honestly, through my own eyes, I do see a lot of holes in his game. And I do see a lack in his interest, I suppose. I don’t know if he wants to be a champion anymore. I think maybe his attention is in different areas, whereas mine is purely focused on being the best I can be and being a champion. So I believe he might have the experience, but I definitely have the hunger.

“Also physically, I just think I’m a much bigger, longer lightweight. I think that that in itself, regardless of any skills we have, immediately, as soon as we step in there, that’s going to present a problem for him. And then on top of that, you put my skills versus his skills. I respect him. I think he’s an awesome athlete. I think he’s very well-rounded. But like I said, I see some holes and I plan on exposing them," Nolan declares.

The fight also carries an emotional significance for Nolan.

He grew up watching Moicano compete and now finds himself sharing the main-event spotlight with a fighter he once looked up to.

“It’s a big opportunity (facing Moicano). I’m very excited. I think I’ve worked hard to be in this position. I’ve earned this fight. But to be honest, I’m not really thinking about all that right now. Right now I like I said, he’s an opponent that’s in the way. It’s going to be emotionless for me. I’m going to be cold in there. Once the fight’s done, I think I’ll go back and I’ll reflect upon fighting a legend and fighting a guy that I’ve looked up to. But right now, currently, that’s not really the case. It’s just a job for me to do."

Nolan also believes his previous experience against Perez has helped him prepare for the mental demands of a high-profile fight, and he intends to approach Moicano with the same focus he brings to every opponent.

“I think I’m quite experienced at that now, to be honest. I think my last fight was a very good example for myself on how to deal with everything mentioned. I feel like Perez was a dangerous opponent and brought a lot of skills. And you know what? He brought the skills, but he also brought what I bring in where we’re both young and hungry and want to be world champions. I think that gave me a bunch of experience. And honestly, things don’t really feel too different this time around. I feel pretty comfortable with it. Like it’s an interesting thing fighting a person that I grew up watching, but it’s not affecting me. I’m not really concerned by it. I see him as an object in front of me that I need to get rid of. I don’t really see him as the guy I watched growing up. It’s emotionless once we step in there. I think that’s probably the best lesson I took from my last fight and I’ll carry it into this one," Nolan said.

Representing Australia

For Nolan, success in the UFC extends beyond winning fights and establishing himself among the division’s leading contenders, with financial security and the opportunity to inspire the next generation of Australian fighters also forming part of his ambitions. He thinks his background in Toowoomba has shaped the way he views his career, particularly the importance of showing young athletes from smaller towns that they can pursue their ambitions and reach the highest level of their chosen sport.

“I’m from a small town. I come from a place where, no, you’re not meant to do what I’m doing. You’re not meant to be in this position. But yet here I am. And I want to show people that you can do these things," Nolan said.

His wife, teammates and family remain his biggest sources of support. For Nolan, the relationships he has built outside the Octagon have helped him maintain balance throughout his career.

The people he trains with also form an important part of his life beyond fighting. They are his best friends.

“My wife is a big support in regards to my life outside of the cage. She’s not a fighter herself, so she doesn’t completely understand all of it, but she understands me and how to help me be. But in saying that, the people in the gym are my best friends. So it’s a weird one where like being in the gym also supports my outside life because the people in the gym aren’t just like gym members. They’re my friends. I’d say my teammates and my wife and obviously my family, they’re the people that definitely helped me regulate," he said.

The Australian is aware of the sacrifices involved in professional fighting, particularly the demands of training, weight management and time away from family, and believes young athletes should understand the commitment required before choosing to pursue the sport.

“The advice I would give a young kid in Australia who is watching this and thinks that it’s just all flashy and stuff, I would tell them that it’s not. It’s not that easy. It’s definitely a huge amount of dedication and I might be wrong. I haven’t competed in other sports at the highest level, but I’m going to go out and say that I think that we have the hardest sporting job in the world. I think we have to commit a lot more than other athletes do. Other athletes get to get paid more than us and they don’t have to like, watch their weight. They don’t have to train as many hours as we do and sacrifice and leave their family behind. Some do a lot but not as many as mixed martial artists. So my advice to them would be if you’re going to do this, make sure it’s something you love because if you don’t love it, you will quickly hate it," Nolan warns.

As Nolan prepares to face Moicano in his first UFC main event, the opportunity to establish himself among the lightweight division’s leading contenders comes with the chance to further the ambitions he has carried since his childhood in Toowoomba.

Watch UFC Fight Night – Moicano vs. Nolan on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 5:30 AM, Live on Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) & Sony LIV.

About the Author

Feroz KhanPrincipal Correspondent

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience ...Read More

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