Issue 134
November 2015
The days of the rules of MMA being lost in translation are coming to an end – at last
Marc Goddard
Our resident third man in the Octagon on his hope for a unified world of mixed martial arts
Imagine if the free-throw line in basketball was a different distance from the hoop depending on what country you were in. Or if a penalty kick in soccer was worth two goals instead of one when you crossed a border. And how would tennis even work if part of the world used a six-foot net?
All of these sporting conundrums are nonsense, of course, but in mixed martial arts varying rule sets have been par for the course for 20 years. One nation’s interpretation of the rules can be a polar opposite to the next.
Believe me, I know. After refereeing fights in some 30 different countries across the continents during my career, the last decade or so has been a minefield for fighters, fans and officials.
There’s an urgent need for standardization and unification. Participants and officials need a recognized, single common rule set, just like most other established sports.
Luckily, the journey towards a unified sport across the world has started. It’s thanks largely to the formation of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), which rose out of Sweden in 2012 to become the global governing body for mixed martial arts.
This entire sport is still in its formative stages, so it doesn’t have the established worldwide recognition, definition and identity that other global sports have. So a world governing body, helping to bring uniformity and structure as well as planned and penned progression to ensure a level development and rise in standards for everyone involved, is vital for the future.
The key is the amateur level. The aim is to have all clubs, coaches, participants, commissions and officials subject to the same programs and rules under the IMMAF. For the first time in the history of this sport we’re all in the process of reading from the same script. It’s phenomenal to be part of it.
Another vital step is to make sure the world’s judges and referees are all singing from the same hymn sheet. In September I will visit Prague in the Czech Republic to conduct the International Amateur MMA Referees Certification course on behalf of the IMMAF. The goal is to share my experiences and knowledge of dealing with regulatory bodies to educate the industry.
This event will help develop and ensure a greater understanding as well as continual assessment for referees globally and this shall ensure a more level, improved and understood evolution for all concerned.
We’re still a baby sport in terms of development and time, but many steps are now being taken to ensure we can all evolve at the same rate. The emphasis on amateur MMA is unprecedented. Even UFC president Dana White openly penned a letter of support to the federation and its efforts to giving tomorrow’s stars the platform, progression and professionalism they need. That can only help progress.
Inside and outside of the rings and cages, MMA’s future looks brighter than ever.
Global appeal
47 and counting
The IMMAF now has 47 member countries and each is now developing its own referee and judge training certification programs. Every participant is eligible to attend international courses.
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