Sherdog’s Top 10: Officiating Blunders

Did Dan Miragliotta curtail Heath Herring’s chances before the opening bell? | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

8. Dan Miragliotta Pokes Heath Herring in the Eye

It wound up being the last fight ever for “The Texas Crazy Horse,” and it’s one Heath Herring would sooner forget. It was against Brock Lesnar at UFC 87, but the hilarity happened during the staredown. Referee Dan Miragliotta was giving the customary pre-fight instructions when he touched Herring in the face with his right hand. The ref accidentally poked Herring in his left eye, which, of course, Heath wasn’t exactly too fond of.

Lesnar wound up dominating the former Pride veteran for three rounds but over the course of the duel, Herring’s left eye was the one that became swollen shut. That’s not to say it’s the reason Lesnar kicked his butt, but it does lend some fuel to the fire for those who believes Miragliotta’s eye poke curtailed Herring’s fight before it even happened.

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