UFC Referees Say Pay Lags Behind Their Workload
Former UFC referee Big John McCarthy says officials are underpaid and overworked, following criticism of a Halloween main event stoppage.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts
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Big John McCarthy said UFC referees are underpaid and overworked after Dan Miragliotta's decision to stand up Renato Moicano and Tom Nolan drew criticism at UFC Halloween. Tom Nolan went on to win the fight by TKO in the third round.
Why it matters
The comments spotlight pay and working conditions for officials in a sport where sports betting has become a large part of the audience's engagement. Referee decisions in close fights can carry significant consequences for athletes and bettors alike.
Reported pay for Dan Miragliotta was $1600, and Big John McCarthy's highest UFC referee pay was $2000 from his final New York show in 2017. The extraction does not confirm whether referee pay has changed since then or how it compares across other events.
The players
Big John McCarthy
A longtime UFC referee who has spoken publicly about referee pay and working conditions in mixed martial arts.
Dan Miragliotta
A UFC referee who stood up the Renato Moicano vs. Tom Nolan main event at UFC Halloween and drew criticism for the call.
The details
Miragliotta stood the Moicano vs. Nolan fight back up after Moicano took Nolan's back and locked in a body triangle, and Nolan landed a knee moments later. McCarthy also said referees have received death threats.
Timeline
- 2017: McCarthy's final New York UFC show, paying $2000.
- October 31, 2026: UFC Halloween event where Miragliotta stood up the Moicano vs. Nolan fight.
Season Trajectory
The debate over referee pay extends back to McCarthy's 2017 New York event, which remains the benchmark for top officiating compensation cited in this discussion. The comparison underscores that officiating pay has been a recurring concern in the sport rather than a single-season issue.
Fantasy and betting audiences tracking UFC cards should note that referee stoppage decisions, like the one in Moicano vs. Nolan, can shift outcomes in fights that are otherwise decided on the mat. The reported pay figures also suggest officiating compensation is a live issue for anyone following card-level judging.
The takeaway
Referee pay and working conditions are shaping the conversation around UFC officiating, and bettors and fans should watch whether the sport addresses them after high-profile stoppages.
Further reading
For more on the sport's officiating and fight calls, see Mixed Martial Arts coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MMAmania.
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