Brown Calls For Miragliotta Reprimand After UFC Vegas 123

Retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown says referee Dan Miragliotta should face consequences after standing up Renato Moicano from back control during the Brazilian's fight with Tom Nolan at UFC Vegas 123.

Miragliotta ordered the fighters back to their feet despite Moicano controlling Nolan's back with a body triangle locked in, one of the most dominant positions in mixed martial arts. Nolan nearly finished Moicano moments after the standup and eventually stopped him in the third round.

Brown Questions Refereeing Standards After Controversial Call

Brown questioned whether commissions face pressure from the UFC to keep fights standing and criticized the lack of accountability for officiating errors. He told The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast that the standup affected Moicano's purse, ranking, title prospects, and sponsorship opportunities. Brown said Miragliotta made the call without any prior warning to the Brazilian, who had worked hard to secure the position.

The former welterweight contender argued that referees should face the same financial penalties fighters suffer when controversial calls change fight outcomes. He wants Miragliotta removed from major assignments and fined, according to MMA Fighting.

Brown also pointed to inconsistent officiating as a broader problem across the sport, saying fighters deserve to know what standards will be enforced before they step into the cage. Moicano was dominating the fight before losing his back control and subsequently the bout itself.

Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Alfredo Rosado / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Matt Brown rips Dan Miragliotta for terrible standup, calls for him to be reprimanded: ‘What the f*ck are you doing? | MMA Fighting