Dana White Defends Referee After Ray Longo's Explosive Rant

Dana White has addressed veteran referee Dan Miragliotta’s controversial stand-up in the Renato “Money” Moicano vs. Tom Nolan bout.

Moicano suffered a third-round stoppage loss to Nolan at UFC Vegas 123 on Oct. 31.

However, the fight was marred by controversy when Miragliotta stood the fighters up for inactivity while Moicano had Nolan’s back in the second round.

While it’s very rare for a referee to intervene when a fighter has his opponent’s back, White defended Miragliotta’s call.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO says that, under the ruleset, damage is the key factor in stand-ups, not holding position.

White notes that some grapplers can ride their opponent’s back for three rounds and says the referee is right to intervene if the fighter in a dominant position isn’t trying to land damage or advance position.

“I don’t think it’s about dominant position,” White said during a media scrum captured by TheMacLife.

“It’s about, are you doing damage or not, trying to win the fight?”

“Some of these guys are so good, they can f*cking take your back and ride it out for three rounds.”

“The rules are, if you're not doing damage or trying to advance your position, or trying to win the fight, you get stood up.”

Ray Longo, a well-known MMA coach, went off on Miragliotta following the controversy.

Longo’s explosive rant included the line: “What in the f*ck were you thinking?”

Other fighters and analysts have also spoken out.

Demetrious Johnson commented on the controversy, saying "It makes no sense."

Renato Moicano also addressed the situation publicly.

Veteran MMA referees have blasted Miragliotta over the call.