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[Cat--Smasher]

Miragliotta stands behind stand-ups, rules out any UFC involvement in decisions

"If there's two guys on the ground that aren't doing anything or if they're in a takedown position and they're just very tired so they're leaning against each other and they're not going for a single-leg or they're not trying something different to change their position, I give them some time," Miragliotta today told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com). "I warn them, and then I'll separate them."

Belfort and Johnson met in the co-main event of this past weekend's UFC 142 event in Rio de Janiero. When the UFC visits foreign countries that lack an athletic commission to oversee the events, UFC vice president and former Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Marc Ratner serves as the lead regulator.

Miragliotta, Mario Yamasaki and Leon Roberts were all hired by Ratner and the UFC to serve as officials at UFC 142.

Miragliotta was also in the cage for Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Ednaldo Oliveira and Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim, but it was the Belfort-Johnson matchup that had some fans up in arms.

Miragliotta's critics say his three restart calls, two that came with Johnson in top position and one with "Rumble" in a takedown position against the cage, were unfair and far too hasty, but the referee said he felt his decisions were all warranted.

"[Johnson] established position and then just held his wrist and laid on top of him," Miragliotta said. "He had that one real nice, heavy punch that kind of busted up Vitor's face in the very early beginning of the first round, and then after that his takedowns had just kind of stopped."

Some critics suggested the rowdy HSBC Arena crowd had something to do with Miragliotta's calls. After all, the arena was decidedly pro-Belfort and made it clear they weren't enjoying Johnson's time on top.

Miragliotta, a veteran of big fights all over the world, said that simply isn't true.

"Honestly, the way the fans were screaming and hollering for the fight, I don't think it would have mattered if it was up or down," Miragliotta said. "They were just into the fight. I don't listen to the crowd. They don't bother me."

But some conspiracy theorists have taken it a step further, suggesting that perhaps the UFC played a role in Miragliotta's call. After all, Johnson had missed weight for the contest by a stunning 11 pounds. Perhaps the official was given a little backstage pep talk from UFC president Dana White about the importance of giving Belfort the best possible chance at winning?

No way, said Miragliotta.

"The UFC never talks to us," Miragliotta said. "You go out there, and Marc Ratner is the one that's responsible for us. We never talk to Dana or Zuffa or any of the other guys. I may have talked to Dana once or twice since I've been doing this. They don't bother us.

"Never, ever have you ever heard the UFC grab an official and say to them, 'Let's change the criteria,' or, 'Let's do something different because we need to keep the fans happy.'"

Miragliotta said he wasn't immediately aware there was any public backlash to his work. In fact, he spoke with Johnson's camp the following day and didn't hear any gripe from the fighter's corner.

"Neither corner came up to me and said anything negative," Miragliotta said. "I rode with Anthony Johnson's corner in the bus on the way to the airport, and he thanked me for giving his guy a chance to fight. He never said, 'I wish you would have let them stay on the ground a little longer,' or, 'I wish you would have stood them up faster.'"

Miragliotta stands behind stand-ups, rules out any UFC involvement in decisions | MMAjunkie.com

[classicironman]

I dont like that this is being related to a johnson defence but in general this statment is a load of crap!
Kickboxing takes half a round or even till round 2 to feel out your opponent,no problem, but once it hits the ground the second clock begins.You can just listen without watching and know when they are about to get stood up by the boos. We have all seen fighters throwing blows and still get stood up.
Top fighter being controled by the fighter on the bottom to the point of no advancment,ok, but just as a stricker has to have time to figure out which strike to make so does a grapler have to figure out how to finish
Is there a rule that says if a stricker hasnt knocked out a grapler within a minute he has to lay down and give the grapler top position? Yea I know the answer to that one but I dont see the difference.

[beau420]

I would like to see a count like a pro wrestling used.

I warning followed by a standup makes sense. But sometimes the warning comes within 10 seconds of hitting the ground, then 5 seconds and the fight is stood back up.

Other times the warning comes after 1 minute and they aren't stood up for another 10 seconds.

Consistence would be nice.

I would like to see a standard rule. Like no significant strike for 10 seconds or attempt to pass guard or change position for 10 seconds and then a warning is given....then the ref should count aloud to 5 or 10 before he separates the fighters and stands them up.

I would say that more than 75 percent of the time, the crowd is the one that decides if the fight is stood back up....or how quickly it is stood back up.

[NLRepublic]

This is BS... as much as I wanted to see Vitor smash AJ for being a fat ass on the scale, those stand ups were ridiculous

If Sonnen/Silva actually happens in Brazil, Sonnen has an even smaller chance than I already thought he had

[chungt79]

Worst ref ever. Inconsistent, easily influenced by the crowd, and just series of bad calls. I can't believe they can't get rid of this guy.

[goodtimes]

Originally Posted by beau420

I would like to see a count like a pro wrestling used.

I warning followed by a standup makes sense. But sometimes the warning comes within 10 seconds of hitting the ground, then 5 seconds and the fight is stood back up.

Other times the warning comes after 1 minute and they aren't stood up for another 10 seconds.

Consistence would be nice.

I would like to see a standard rule. Like no significant strike for 10 seconds or attempt to pass guard or change position for 10 seconds and then a warning is given....then the ref should count aloud to 5 or 10 before he separates the fighters and stands them up.

I would say that more than 75 percent of the time, the crowd is the one that decides if the fight is stood back up....or how quickly it is stood back up.

I think that would just lead to more guys playing the game; like they do nothing, get the warning and hear the counting, then with like 1-2 seconds left they make a half ass pass attempt or throw a punch to keep it from getting stood up.

[Rise]

Originally Posted by goodtimes

I think that would just lead to more guys playing the game; like they do nothing, get the warning and hear the counting, then with like 1-2 seconds left they make a half ass pass attempt or throw a punch to keep it from getting stood up.

Agreed the ref shouldn't be telling the fighters to keep busy at all when they are on the ground. He should be making a judgement call at any point that it needs to be stood up.