MMA Star's Mises Endorsement Ignites Book Sales Surge

Brazilian UFC lightweight Renato "Money" Moicano has sparked newfound interest in Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises's writings after promoting them in his post-fight interview, leading to a surge in downloads of Mises's "The Six Lessons" and other works. Moicano's endorsement has also garnered the attention of prominent Bitcoin advocates and Austrian economics enthusiasts, including Peter Schiff and Saifedean Ammous.

MMA Star's Endorsement of Austrian Economist Ludwig von Mises Sparks Surge in Book Sales

In a surprising turn of events, the writings of Ludwig von Mises, a revered Austrian economist of the early 20th century, have experienced a remarkable resurgence in popularity following an unexpected endorsement from a prominent mixed martial arts fighter.

Renato "Money" Moicano, who ascended to the top ten rankings in the UFC's lightweight division after his triumphant comeback performance at UFC 300, astonished the audience by redirecting his post-fight spotlight towards the works of Ludwig von Mises. With an impassioned plea, he urged the crowd: "If you care about your fucking country, read Ludwig von Mises and the Six Lessons of the Austrian Economic School, motherfuckers."

Although unconventional, Moicano's message resonated profoundly. Since his electrifying speech, over 26,000 copies of "The Six Lessons" have been downloaded as free PDFs from Amazon, propelling the book to the upper echelons of the site's economics section. Anecdotal accounts on Twitter from Moicano's devoted fanbase indicate that local bookstores have also witnessed a surge in demand for Mises's works, with many reporting complete sellouts.

Ludwig von Mises, a staunch advocate of economic liberty, championed free markets, individualism, and a fixed money supply. His ideas have garnered considerable support among modern proponents, including economist and media figure Peter Schiff, who extols the virtues of gold and advocates for its restoration as the gold standard for the U.S. dollar. Notably, some adherents, including Moicano, also profess a strong affinity for Bitcoin, recognizing its fixed supply, decentralized nature, and independence from central banking.

Following his triumph, Moicano expressed his preference for receiving his $300,000 fight-finishing bonus in Bitcoin. "I love Bitcoin, I love decentralization," he declared in an interview on Monday's episode of Ariel Helwani's "The MMA Hour." Embracing Austrian economics and Bitcoin, Moicano revealed that he no longer entrusts his finances to banks, cognizant of the erosion of fiat currencies' value due to inflation.

"It's not an investment… it could go up and down every time," he acknowledged. "But it's better than trusting a money that is backed by politicians and promises. If you don’t have money to buy Bitcoin, try to learn about money and Bitcoin."

On Monday, Moicano expressed his desire to make a guest appearance on "Show Me The Money," a podcast hosted by Austrian economist and author of "The Bitcoin Standard," Saifedean Ammous. Ammous responded with enthusiasm, welcoming Moicano with open arms.

Jordan Peterson, a former professor of psychology who has previously hosted Ammous on his own podcast, lauded Moicano's post-fight speech as "unspeakably great." He remarked on Twitter, "The deadly boxers have become profound economic philosophers."

Moicano's vocal endorsement has ignited widespread interest in Mises's ideas, contributing to a resurging appreciation of his economic philosophy. Whether this newfound attention will translate into a broader adoption of Austrian economic principles remains to be seen, but the MMA star's bold advocacy has undoubtedly sparked a significant dialogue.