Veteran referee John McCarthy criticizes Dan Miragliotta's stand-up decision at UFC Vegas 123
John McCarthy said referee Dan Miragliotta’s decision to stand up Renato Moicano during the main event was inconsistent with MMA rules, arguing that back control should not be interrupted unless a fighter is stalling.
During the main event of UFC Vegas 123, referee Dan Miragliotta stood up Renato Moicano while he held Tom Nolan’s back in a seat-belt position. The stand-up shifted the fight’s momentum, and Nolan secured a third-round TKO victory.
Veteran referee John McCarthy, speaking on the Weighing In podcast, said the decision conflicted with the sport’s principle of rewarding superior position. > “The purpose of MMA is to showcase that your skillset is better than your opponent’s. When a fighter has back control, that is the best position because the opponent cannot finish you while you can finish them.”
McCarthy added that a referee’s role is to ensure fairness, not to create a finish by interrupting a dominant position. > “Your job is to be fair. Standing up a fighter who is in back control is unfair because the fighter is already in a position to finish the bout.”
He explained that stand-ups are appropriate only when the fighter in control is stalling, such as remaining passive in guard or half-guard for an extended period. > “The only time we should stand up a fight is when the person who is in control is not doing anything and is simply letting the clock run.”
McCarthy, a longtime official and author of many MMA rules, said Miragliotta’s action violated a core guideline he teaches in his refereeing course. > “You cannot make a bad fight good, but you can make a good fight bad by standing up a fighter who is in a dominant position.”
While acknowledging Miragliotta’s professionalism, McCarthy emphasized that consistency in officiating is essential for the sport’s integrity.