Morning Report | Coach questions if UFC influenced controversial referee standup: ‘If you don’t fight a certain fight, you’re not getting in’

Key Points:

• UFC Vegas 123's main event between Tom Nolan and Renato Moicano was overshadowed by a controversial referee call by Dan Miragliotta, who stood the fighters up while Moicano had back control, leading to Nolan's comeback finish.
• Veteran coach Ray Longo criticized the referee's decision, suggesting possible external pressures influencing the call and expressing concerns about the current UFC environment limiting fighting styles and strategies.
• Longo also questioned the UFC's handling of the situation, particularly the awarding of a Performance of the Night bonus to Nolan, implying it may signal organizational approval of the controversial outcome.
• Tom Nolan defended the fight result, stating the outcome would have been the same without the referee's intervention, but Longo felt Nolan mishandled his post-fight response by not acknowledging the officiating assistance.
• The controversy has sparked broader discussions about officiating integrity and fighter treatment in the UFC, with prominent figures like Daniel Cormier and Matt Brown also publicly criticizing the referee's decision.