It was a spooky Halloween night for Renato Moicano at UFC Vegas 123.
In his second straight UFC headlining bout, the seasoned lightweight veteran faced another rising prospect, after defeating Chris Duncan in April with a second-round face crank submission. This time it was Australia’s Tom Nolan. Moicano looked like he was going to win at UFC Vegas 123, but the second round ended up being a disaster for the Brazilian, as referee Dan Miragliotta controversially stood up to Moicano while maintaining control over Nolan with a tight body triangle. Moicano went on to strike first in the third round.
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Speaking on “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Monday, Moicano shared his momentary reaction to Miragliotta’s prodigious stoppage — and he was as dumbfounded and stunned as most viewers thought as the unprecedented moment unfolded.
“‘What is going on?’ I really thought “Moicano told me to be crowned”.
“I was shocked. I was surprised. But then I thought, “Okay, focus on the fight. Don’t let it distract you.” But in the end, I was a little surprised.
Given that Moicano is the most dominant fighter in the controversy, it is impossible not to wonder at Miragliotta’s opinion. As they stood for the first time, they fell into a moment of fierce wrestling, when Nolan struck out. He then moved Moicano to the floor with a big knee, killing the fight from his position.
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Moicano, 37, admitted he’s still injured from the knee he took to the head in the third round, but he doesn’t want to take credit for the refereeing error from Nolan.
“I think it’s fair to say” [it got me off my game]. It’s not an easy fight,” Moicano said. “Tom Nolan is a great striker. I have nothing to complain about Tom Nolan. He did nothing wrong. He beat me fair and square. It is not his fault that the referee made a mistake.
“He used the opportunity. The night was the better striker. Finding his release, but you remember in the first round, I brought him down very easily. I brought him down, took his back and spent the whole round him. In the second round the same – passing the fastest at the beginning of the round, and I imagine if the referee caught him. not easy, but I would like to go all around in the back, and fly in the second round.
Since Saturday, the momentous turn of events has become a hot topic throughout the community, leading many to question whether it was one of the worst refereeing scandals of all time. Even veteran official “Big” John McCarthy said Monday on “The Ariel Helwani Show” that he disagreed with Miragliotta’s decision.
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During the controversy, Nolan mentioned illegal back-of-the-head shots from Moicano landing. The Brazilian insisted that he landed no illegal blows, but instead punched Nolan in the nose and wrapped his fists around his face.
In the end, Moicano will protest the event to the Nevada Athletic Commission.
“I don’t want to complain. I have to do what I have to do,” Moicano said. “I needed to put him on the ground and break him, and I didn’t. Although it took him one minute to bring him to the ground, he was doing it right. If you see his body, he was doing everything on top of me, I wouldn’t be on the ground. So he wasn’t trying to escape, he was still alive with his hands closed, and he didn’t let me do anything.
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“In my mind I always take people’s backs, then strike and finish the fight, and I couldn’t do that with Tom Nolan. It’s not a good job from me.”
Having lost all but his evil deeds, he is finally driven to a late-career Moicano title. He is now 1-3 in his last four, and said he has three fights left in his UFC deal. After this, the 37-year-old said that he is probably done with MMA, and will turn to boxing if he stops fighting sports.
It’s a tough thing, but it’s not Moicano also It was broken. As expected, the man with the second nickname “Money” is more upset that more information about him is missing.
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“I couldn’t care less about Tom Nolan or Dan Miragliotta. That’s life, you know?” It is called Moicano. “Finally, I’m not going to fight anymore. Eventually I’m going to leave. Eventually, you won’t even remember the fight. That’s what it is. I’m not here to make friends or be nice to people. I’m here for the money.
“The only thing I find sad about me is only half a paycheck. That’s my problem. It’s hard to f*** you in this game. You put your life on the line, and sometimes because of other people’s mistakes, you don’t get paid. That’s my problem with that.”