Fighter gets mauled as ref misses tap out
Fight fans have called for the sacking of referee Dan Miragliotta after he missed a tap out from Charles Oliveira at UFC 218.
The horror mistake led to Oliveira getting absolutely pummelled on the ground by his opponent Paul Felder.
Vision of the fight shows Oliveira tapping the shoulder of his opponent, with Felder even pausing for a moment in anticipation of referee Miragliotta calling off the bout.
But without the signal of the referee, Felder unfortunately had to go on with the fight, throwing down a series of hard elbows into the head of the defeated Oliveira.
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"You know how it is in there," Felder said.
"Maybe he’s trying to move out of it, I just kept going. But I could feel him tap, yeah."
It was a horrible incident for Oliveira, who was unable to immediately get to his feet after the battering.
Fight fans took to Twitter to condemn Miragliotta's mistake.
Felder paused for a moment at that tap, perhaps waiting to see if Dan Miragliotta would step in. When Dan didn't, Felder did the smart thing and went back to the elbows to seal the deal. RIP Oliveira's orbital bone.
— Connor Ruebusch (@BoxingBusch) December 3, 2017
Terrible stoppage by Dan Miragliotta at #UFC218 during Felder v. Olivera fight. Those elbows could be life changing, Dan you gotta do better #mma #ufc #striking #bjj
— calacagoth (@calacagoth) December 3, 2017
For me Dan Miragliotta didn't do a good job at all! He's there to protect the fighters from illegal knees and to stop the fight when a fighter Taps! The fighters must need protection from the referee when they can't protect themselves... Bad job tonight I think!
— Jackson Baker (@JLB195) December 3, 2017
What is wrong with Dan Miragliotta? Missed the illegal knee and then the tap. Oliveira ate way too many shots there. #UFC218
— I'm Dad Inside (@ChrisRobinsonNJ) December 3, 2017
@LarryPepe I guess Dan Miragliotta was out of position by being directly in front of that tap. Maybe he thought it was a joke tap.
— Bigfatcountry (@bigfatcountry) December 3, 2017
Dan Miragliotta asleep on the job. Missed illegal knee and failed to respond to tap out. #ufc218
— doesitmatter (@logicviniculum) December 3, 2017
Dan Miragliotta allowing illegal knees and not respecting tap outs? Where's Conor McGregor when you need him #UFC218
— Tony (@TonyRoche17) December 3, 2017
Dan Miragliotta missed a knee to the face and a tap before 5 elbows to the head. Needs to be banned from all fight city commissions. #UFC218
— T. (@TonyCaminada) December 3, 2017
Paul Felder felt the tap after the first elbow and Dan Miragliotta did nothing to stop that ounslaught. #UFC218
— Punch-Drunk Pauly (@punchdrunkpauly) December 3, 2017
Dan Miragliotta just apologized to Do Bronx for missing the tap
— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) December 3, 2017
Watch the incident in the video at the top of the page.
It was just one of a number of big moments from UFC 218.