Matt Brown has joined the growing criticism of referee Dan Miragliotta following his controversial decision to separate Renato Moicano and Tom Nolan during their UFC Vegas 123 main event.
Last weekend, Miragliotta intervened in the second round while Moicano had Nolan trapped in back control with a body triangle. The Brazilian was actively working from the position, which is widely considered one of the most advantageous spots for securing a finish in MMA.
The decision drew immediate backlash. Nolan capitalized shortly afterward, nearly finishing Moicano before ultimately securing a third-round TKO victory. The sequence raised questions about whether the referee’s intervention had unfairly shifted the momentum of the contest.
Brown, a retired UFC welterweight and longtime veteran of the sport, was particularly incensed by the call during a recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer (via MMA Fighting).
Matt Brown Questions UFC’s Push For More Exciting Fights
“The Immortal” strongly opposed the stand-up, suggesting that referees and athletic commissions must remain impartial rather than interfere with the natural flow of a fight.
I don’t like standups in general. I don’t like them at all as a rule. It’s mixed martial arts, it’s not kickboxing, it’s not Muay Thai,” Brown said.
The MMA veteran also questioned whether the promotion’s emphasis on more entertaining, stand-up exchanges could influence officiating decisions. He acknowledged that the UFC has increasingly favored exciting matchups, but insisted that referees must enforce the rules without outside pressure.
Brown did not claim that Miragliotta had been directly influenced. Instead, he called for greater transparency and stressed that commissions and officials should operate independently.
“The Immortal” believes the impact of a questionable officiating decision extends far beyond the outcome on the night. He pointed out that Moicano’s defeat could affect his earnings, ranking, future matchups, title aspirations, and sponsorship opportunities.
According to Brown, the referee should be held accountable for a mistake that could have significant consequences for a fighter’s career.
What we forget, that fight is Moicano’s f*cking life,” Brown said. “He affected his life. He affected the amount of money he got today. He affected the amount of money he’s going to get in his next fight. He affected his ranking.
Brown went on to demand disciplinary action against Miragliotta, arguing that the referee should face consequences comparable to those suffered by Moicano.
Dan Miragliotta f*cked up big time. Should be reprimanded. It should never happen again. He should suffer at minimum those same consequences [as Renato Moicano]. He should lose some money. He should lose his ability to ref big fights.
