Tom Nolan secured a TKO victory at UFC Fight Night 292, though the bout featured a major turning point when referee Dan Miragliotta ordered a controversial standup midway through the second round.
Reacting to the Standup and Illegal Strikes
Speaking to MMA Junkie and other reporters at the post-fight news conference, Nolan (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) explained that he simply followed instructions when the referee told the fighters to get back to their feet after Renato Moicano controlled his back for large portions of the opening 10 minutes. Nolan noted that he was just doing what he was told and had no personal agenda regarding the decision.
Moments after the restart, Nolan dropped Moicano with a powerful strike, eventually battering him to secure a third-round TKO stoppage. Nolan clarified that he had previously tried to catch Miragliotta’s attention not to ask for a standup, but to report that Moicano was landing illegal punches to the back of his head.
Nolan stated that he informed the referee about the illegal blows because it is a dangerous area to strike an opponent. He added that he was completely comfortable losing the round on the ground and had no control over the referee’s decision to stand them up.
Looking Ahead to Potential Matchups
The victory marked Nolan’s sixth consecutive win, boosting his position on the UFC lightweight ladder. When asked about his next steps in the division, Nolan expressed interest in sharing the Octagon with Mateusz Gamrot.
Nolan said he believes a matchup against Gamrot would be stylistically fun and bring out the best version of himself during training camp. However, he remains content to let the organization decide his next path while he enjoys his latest win.
