Issue 091

August 2012

Being an international referee takes more than a strong grasp of the Unified Rules

Each issue UFC referee Marc Goddard brings fight fans the ref’s side of the story.

Back when I first ventured into the officiating side of MMA there was no real role model who I looked up to, no one I could emulate and choose to learn from. Instead I went it alone and made my own path. Sure, there were individuals who had refereed and judged before me, some coming from as varied a background as I, others not. 

It was actually by sheer surprise and coincidence (although I now believe to be fate) that the opportunity first came around. I was originally scheduled to fight on a show back in 2004, when I became injured in the lead-up to the event. The promoter, then a trainer and still a friend, asked me if I would not mind helping out as he has been let down last minute by a secondary referee that could not make the show. ‘Sure,’ I said, I mean, how hard could it be? 

On the night I found myself feeling right at home. I didn’t have time to be nervous or give it any thought as it was sprung upon me by surprise. I remember taking control in the rules meeting as if almost on autopilot, this stemming from my years of competing in MMA and grappling and then still actively training in all its facets. I also genuinely felt like I had gained an almost instant unwritten respect form my charges. 

Many of the fighters had previously shared a dressing room with me, so I was not only a familiar face, but one who understood exactly what they were going through. Immediately after the event I was congratulated and thanked by many – both personally and publically – which gave me huge gratification.

Having a direct competitive past within MMA truly helped me beyond measure, but only in the fact that it sat in tandem with the other qualities needed to be a mixed martial arts referee. Motivation, perseverance, timing, diligence and the ability to cope under pressure – are all equally as significant in my opinion. 

But to flip this thought on its head regarding officials with competitive pasts being the best, it is my belief that this does not always strictly have to be the case. Truly ‘understanding’ MMA may not necessarily come from actually having fought to gain that ‘psychological dimension,’ but instead arrive in the form of years of dedicated training and coaching. How many fighters could you name, absolute assassins on a world level, but not necessarily characters you would choose to learn from?

The reputation and hard-earned respect you need to succeed is garnered over years of dedication in your chosen field, and these are the things that cannot be hurried, skipped or bought for any official regardless of the sport. It has taken me those same years alongside thousands upon thousands of bouts experienced – coupled with my competitive, coaching and training experience – to bring me to where I stand today. 

When I was first drafted into the UFC, I was naturally thrilled and excited to be recognized for my work in the many previous years. I didn’t stand alone, as my friend, colleague and world-class official Leon Roberts joined me – and has since continued in fine form to deliver the goods time and time again. 

I recall standing at the weigh-ins at my first event as an official and meeting fellow UFC referees Kevin Mulhall and Dan Miragliotta for the first time. Now here was a man that I could look up to – literally! Both Kevin and Dan were very warm and friendly from the off, and my respect for them, not only as referees (who were instantly recognizable for performing on the biggest stage) but as individuals, grew immediately. 

Herb Dean, Mario Yamasaki and Yuji Shimada – the other notable world-class guys I’ve had the privilege to work with on many occasions – also have my upmost respect, as do many others I’ve worked with in various world territories. Many referees and judges have consistently proved themselves over recent years both in the UK and beyond and the level of officials, along with the level of the sport in general is improving at a vast rate. 

I do think that both historically speaking and by numbers alone, the USA has led the way but with the UK right behind them – and thanks largely to the UFC, new territories have seen new officials and commissions being brought on board: Australia and Sweden to name two. 

As the meteoric rise of mixed martial arts continues across the globe the demand is high, not only for fighters to be able to feed the fans’ hunger, but for well-trained officials to ensure that standards are met and, just as importantly, maintained. 

A rule-set, weights, fouls and all variables can all be taught, however, the personal qualities needed to be an official, in particular on a world level, cannot. On a purely evolutionary basis, as far as time served, the sport of MMA is still forming and finding its own level in many ways. That level attributes itself to each and every facet of the industry, from coaches to cornermen, cutmen to commentators, and, of course, the judges and referees that will continue to rise and improve like everything else.