Renato Moicano Jokes About Dan Miragliotta at MMA Show

Renato Moicano has found a humorous way to turn the attention surrounding referee Dan Miragliotta into promotion for his upcoming MMA event. The UFC lightweight joked that Miragliotta could be brought in to intervene in fights at his next show, Money Moicano MMA 2, while sharing details about the December 5 event.

Moicano has faced several questions about Miragliotta following the controversy at UFC Vegas 123, where the referee’s decision to restart a ground exchange became a major talking point. Rather than avoiding the subject, the Brazilian fighter used it to promote his own card in a video shared on X.

In the video, Moicano first confirmed that he would be watching UFC 335 live before announcing that his Money Moicano MMA show would take place on December 5. He also highlighted that the event would be available free on YouTube.

“UFC 335, I am going to be watching live. December 5, Money Moicano MMA show on YouTube, live and free.”

He then turned his attention to Miragliotta, making a joke about potentially hiring the referee to stand fighters up if their contests became too slow.

“Be careful, maybe I gonna bring Dan Miragliotta to stand some motherf****** up. Nobody wants to see boring fights. Let’s f****** go.”

The comment referenced the controversial sequence from Moicano’s recent main-event defeat against Tom Nolan on October 31 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. The result saw Moicano’s record fall to 21-8-1, while Nolan moved up to No. 7 in the lightweight rankings. Moicano dropped to No. 14, while the Australian secured a significant rise in the division.

Dan Miragliotta’s Stand-Up Decision Became the Story of UFC Vegas 123

The controversy centred on an exchange in the second round of Moicano’s fight against Nolan. Moicano had taken Nolan’s back and secured a body triangle, putting himself in a position to attack with a rear-naked choke.

However, with approximately 80 seconds remaining in the round, referee Dan Miragliotta restarted the contest on the feet. Nolan had spent much of the opening two rounds defending against Moicano’s grappling pressure, but the reset changed the position and gave him another opportunity to attack while standing.

Following the restart, Nolan managed to hurt Moicano before finishing the fight with punches and elbows at 1:28 of the third round. The sequence quickly became one of the most discussed moments from UFC Vegas 123, with attention shifting towards the referee’s decision and its impact on the contest.

Several fans and observers criticised the decision to stand the fighters up, while others expressed confusion about why Miragliotta had intervened. The incident generated debate about referee discretion, particularly when a fighter is controlling an opponent on the ground and actively working towards a submission.

Moicano, however, did not blame Miragliotta for the defeat. Although he was unhappy with the referee’s intervention, he also expressed disappointment with his own performance after the fight.

Tom Nolan Shares His Account of the Referee Interaction

Nolan also addressed the controversy and discussed his interaction with Miragliotta shortly before the decision to restart the fight. The Australian offered a different perspective on the sequence, saying that Moicano had been striking him at the back of the head.

According to Nolan, he had not made comments asking the referee to stand the fight up. His account added another dimension to the discussion surrounding the incident, as attention remained on what happened during the grappling exchange and the reasons behind Miragliotta’s decision.

The contrasting perspectives have kept the incident in the spotlight. While critics questioned whether the restart was necessary, Nolan’s comments focused on the strikes he claimed to have received during the ground position.

Moicano Rules Out Appeal to Nevada Athletic Commission

Despite the debate surrounding the referee’s decision, Moicano has ruled out appealing the result to the Nevada Athletic Commission. He also suggested that the atmosphere inside the arena may have influenced the situation.

Moicano pointed to the crowd’s booing as a possible factor, arguing that officials are human and can be affected by the atmosphere around them. His comments reflected his dissatisfaction with how the fight unfolded, even though he has not chosen to pursue an official challenge to the outcome.

The incident has raised questions among fans about how referees should handle prolonged grappling exchanges. However, Moicano’s decision not to appeal means the result against Nolan is set to stand, leaving the controversy largely as a matter of debate among the MMA community.

Moicano Has Three Fights Left on UFC Contract

At 37, Moicano has three fights remaining on his UFC contract. The lightweight has also indicated that he wants to test free agency once his current agreement expires, leaving his long-term future with the promotion open.

His immediate focus, however, includes promoting Money Moicano MMA 2, scheduled for December 5. By referencing Miragliotta during the announcement, Moicano connected the attention surrounding UFC Vegas 123 with his own event and delivered a joke that echoed the controversy from his recent fight.

Moicano’s remarks were clearly framed as promotion rather than a confirmed announcement about Miragliotta’s involvement. The referee’s role at any future event has not been established, but the comment has added another talking point to the aftermath of the Nolan fight.

With the lightweight looking towards the remaining bouts on his UFC deal and a possible free-agency move afterwards, his next career decisions will be closely watched. For now, his December 5 show provides another project outside the immediate aftermath of his defeat at UFC Vegas 123.