Tom Nolan survives submission barrage to brutalize Moicano and claim UFC Vegas 123 main event

Tom Nolan delivered the biggest win of his career at UFC Vegas 123, stopping Renato Moicano with a third-round ground-and-pound finish after surviving a sustained grappling assault from the Brazilian. Referee Dan Miragliotta called a halt at 1:28 of round three.

Moicano set the tone immediately, opening with a sharp body kick before dragging Nolan to the canvas and climbing onto his back with a body triangle locked in. The Brazilian hunted submissions throughout the first round — most notably the rear naked choke — with Nolan forced into a prolonged defensive effort before finally clawing back to his feet.

The second round followed a similar pattern. Moicano secured another takedown via body lock and again established back control, but a stand-up from referee Miragliotta shifted the momentum. Nolan capitalised instantly, blasting Moicano with a knockdown flurry just as the horn sounded.

Nolan carried that momentum into the third, landing a near head kick and a punishing knee before Moicano managed one final takedown. This time, however, Nolan reversed position quickly and unleashed relentless ground and pound until Miragliotta stepped in to end it.

“That’s probably better than I expected,” Nolan said afterwards. “I come in here, I spoke to God, I said this is the plan for me and I trust me. I come in here ice cold and I delivered. This is the guy I wanted to fight. This is my job right now and I performed. Whatever the UFC want to do with me next.”

The victory gives the Australian a signature scalp and a credible foothold in the lightweight top 15 rankings, where stiffer tests are likely to follow.