Moicano blames crowd reaction for controversial referee decision at UFC Fight Night 292

Renato Moicano said he believes referee Dan Miragliotta’s decision to stand up the fight during the lightweight main event at UFC Fight Night 292 was affected by the crowd’s reaction. Moicano, who had secured Tom Nolan’s back with a body triangle in the second round, saw the action reset to a standing position, after which Nolan recovered and secured a knockout in the third round.

"I think people booing… it does a huge factor, especially referees, because they are human and are susceptible to emotions," Moicano told "The Ariel Helwani Show." He added that the referee may have thought the bout was becoming uninteresting and chose to restart it for the audience’s entertainment.

Moicano expressed surprise at the call, recalling his control in the first round and his attempts to finish the fight in the second. He suggested that maintaining the back-control position could have allowed him to win the second round and avoid the damage he sustained later.

"I was shocked, I was surprised, but then I thought, 'Focus on the fight. Don't let this distract you,'" he said.

Despite his criticism, Moicano said he will not file an appeal with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and considers the incident closed.

"This is not going to change… I move on. I don't even remember," he concluded.