Issue 127
April 2015
The world of mixed martial arts paid tribute to an emotional Burt Watson at the Fighters Only World MMA Awards. The dedication of the UFC’s ‘babysitter to the stars’ has kept things rollin’ behind the scenes for more than a decade and means he’s adored by fighters and fans alike
A grandfather, family man and Vietnam War veteran, Burt Watson was also the UFC’s backstage maestro. Now in his seventh decade, he’s decided to retire and say farewell. He orchestrated everything behind the UFC veil from weight-cutting preparation to mouthpieces.
During fight week you would hear Watson’s elastic Philly accent echoing around the halls before you saw him. As soon as fighters heard “We rollin’!” they knew it was time to fight. But that’s not all he was tasked with. Anything the fighters needed, he was there.
“I say to them, ‘Whatever it is during the course of the week – I don’t care what it is, what time of day or night – the only question that’s a stupid question is the question you don’t ask,’” he says.
“I had one guy call me because his refrigerator was broken! Whatever I need to do with them in the course of the week, I do that... I make sure that their rooms are ready, the workout rooms are at the right temperature and I make sure they know their schedule.”
The former right-hand man of heavyweight boxing legend Joe Frazier is a behind-the-scenes hero. He’s a colorful personality that’s been respected and loved among the fighters and the rest of the MMA community since he started catering for the UFC’s elite at UFC 31.
Watson’s official job title was site coordinator, but almost everyone knows him as ‘babysitter to the stars’ – a nickname screamed by Joe Rogan at the start of nearly every UFC weigh-in. He’s an unassuming guy until you see him pumping up the fighters and camps behind the scenes with his unmistakable crackly voice and wide smile.
His willingness to go the extra mile has also made him something of a father figure to some of the world’s top athletes. He’s so close to them in fact, he says he can’t bear to watch his surrogate offspring get hurt: “I don’t watch the fights because during the week I get very close to the fighters and the camps. I’m a grandfather and I have children so when I come here on site with the fighters and the camps they’re like my children.”
Watson first joined the UFC to bridge the gap between the fighters and the promoters, taking care of everything and anything. His passion for the job has made sure he’s been the cornerstone of the UFC’s backstage activity for almost 14 years. In that time, his role evolved into motivational speaker, nanny, handyman and everything between. It’s only fitting he got his hands on a silver statuette that recognized his work in the sport at the Seventh Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards.
“Wow. God damn. Believe it or not baby, I’m speechless,” he said as he collected his award. “I’d like to thank Fighters Only for even acknowledging me. 40 years ago ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier gave me a shot when nobody else would. 14 years ago Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta gave me a shot. I love these guys. I love what I do. I love how I do it and it has loved me back baby. We rollin’!”
Thank you Burt Watson, from everyone in MMA.
Fighters on Burt Watson
“When we hear his voice we know it’s go time. There’s not anywhere else where you get that type of feeling when you’re in the back warming up and you hear him.”
UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez.
“He’s an amazing individual, the UFC honestly wouldn’t be where it is if it wasn’t for Burt Watson taking care of all the fighters.”
Three-time ‘Coach of the Year,’ Greg Jackson.
“He’s the guy behind the scenes that keeps this thing running like a well oiled machine. When you hear Burt yell ‘We rollin’ you know it’s time to go.”
Former UFC interim welterweight champion, Carlos Condit.
“Burt Watson is definitely the general that keeps this thing running. It will be a very sad day when Burt’s not the one screaming that I’m on deck and I’m ready to go.”
Former UFC heavyweight champion, Frank Mir.
Journalist of the year
Ariel Helwani
Media source of the year
MMA Junkie
Best lifestyle clothing brand
Bad Boy
Best technical clothing brand
Venum
Best technical equipment
Everlast
Lifetime achievement
Burt Watson
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