BUZZ UFC Vegas 123: Nolan stops Moicano after Miragliotta's disputed stand-up

The finish was clean. The argument is about the round before it. In round two Renato Moicano had Tom Nolan's back with a body triangle and was working strikes and choke attempts when referee Dan Miragliotta stood both men up. Nolan hurt Moicano soon after the restart and stopped him with punches and elbows in round three.

Criticism came from the broadcast booth and the referee community. Jon Anik shared a text in which Joe Rogan wrote, "It's not a sport if refs can do that." Anik said he believes a referee will no longer be able to take back control away that quickly. Henry Cejudo and Gilbert Burns also criticized the call. John McCarthy, the veteran referee, said on his Weighing In podcast that he has never taken a fighter out of back control. In his view Miragliotta wanted action after a full round of back control without a finish, and gave Nolan an advantage he had not earned. McCarthy added that he does not think Miragliotta was trying to be unfair. Miragliotta has not publicly explained the call in the reports.

Moicano, 37, has taken a mixed line. He told MMA Fighting he did not remember a warning and had never seen a fighter stood up from mount or the back. He also said he lost focus, got caught with shots, and should have finished Nolan. He will not file a complaint or ask that Miragliotta stay off his future fights, though his words for the referee were blunt.

On The Ariel Helwani Show he went further about his future. He said he has three fights left on his UFC contract and then wants influencer boxing. He cited Tony Ferguson's long losing streak as the path he wants to avoid, and said the UFC is not going to pay him enough to stay. He is promoting Money Moicano MMA 2 in Sao Paulo on 5 December.

For Nolan, 26, the night is the biggest win of his career, extending his run to six straight wins, and it earned a Performance of the Night bonus. He has said he did not ask for the stand-up. The matchup against Moicano also cost Moicano a loss that landed him at 3-3 over his last six, a stretch that includes a one-day-notice title loss to Islam Makhachev.

Watch for any UFC or commission comment on how referees should handle back control, and for who Moicano draws first of his remaining three fights. Neither has been announced.