Tom Nolan beats Renato Moicano after disputed UFC stand-up call

Tom Nolan defeated Renato Moicano by third-round technical knockout at UFC Vegas 123 after referee Dan Miragliotta stood the fighters up while Moicano had Nolan’s back and was attempting a rear-naked choke. Nolan finished the fight at 1:28 of the round, turning a disputed officiating decision into the defining moment of the main event. Moicano had secured back control and was looking for a submission when Miragliotta intervened. Nolan escaped after the stand-up and later connected with a combination and a knee before ending the bout with a flurry. The referee’s decision drew criticism from commentators and UFC fighters, though no formal review or ruling on the call was reported. Daniel Cormier, a commentator and UFC Hall of Famer, said the stand-up cast a shadow over Nolan’s performance. He argued that referees should not remove fighters from dominant positions such as mount or back control, and said Moicano was working toward a choke rather than stalling. Moicano acknowledged the position and the difficulty he had creating offense in a social-media post after the loss. He said he had trained well and secured Nolan’s back but could not do damage, adding that Nolan defended...