Veteran MMA referee John McCarthy believes referee Dan Miragliotta altered the outcome of UFC Fight Night 292 by granting an unfair advantage to Tom Nolan over Renato Moicano. The event took place at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, where Nolan secured a third-round TKO victory following a controversial referee decision in the previous round.
Controversial Stand-Up and Momentum Shift
During the second round, Moicano secured a body triangle on Nolan after taking him down, alternating between strikes and attempts at a rear-naked choke. After a stall lasting approximately eight seconds, Miragliotta intervened and ordered a stand-up. While Moicano did not immediately protest, the decision sparked swift criticism from both the broadcast team and the broader mixed martial arts community for stripping Moicano of a dominant position.
Capitalizing on the restart, Nolan hurt Moicano and shifted the momentum by the end of the round. He maintained his aggression in the third round and eventually finished the fight with punches. Speaking on the “Weighing In” podcast hosted alongside former fighter Josh Thomson, McCarthy stated that Miragliotta should not have interrupted the sequence in an attempt to manufacture more action.
According to McCarthy, Moicano earned and deserved that position through his own effort. McCarthy noted that a referee cannot turn a poor fight into a good one, but can easily ruin a well-fought contest by interfering. He added that Nolan was given a chance to escape a situation that he should have been required to solve using his own skill set.
Addressing Inactivity and Final Outcomes
Addressing potential concerns regarding inactivity or stalling, McCarthy defended Moicano’s activity level during the sequence. He pointed out that Moicano threw between 20 and 25 strikes in the final minute before the stand-up while searching for an opening to secure a choke.
As a result of the stoppage, Moicano suffered his third loss in four outings following his lightweight title opportunity nearly two years prior. Meanwhile, Nolan capitalized on the fresh opportunity provided by the referee to claim his sixth consecutive victory.
