Issue 064

July 2010

In this brand new feature, UFC referee Marc Goddard will explain the obstacles a referee must overcome, clarify questions on rules and regulations, and comment on high-profile incidents relating to officiating. 

LET'S GET PHYSICAL

Run left, swerve right, skip backwards and dash forwards – no, not a game of ‘catch me if you can’! Instead, the everyday common movements that a referee undergoes while chasing the action around inside the cage during an MMA bout! 

You’ve got to stay close enough to the action so you can see exactly what is going on, but not too close so as to get caught flat-footed when a fighter makes a sudden movement toward you. You’ve got to stay back, allowing the fighters room to work and their corners to see what is going on so they may be able to shout out that split-second, fight-winning advice. Commentators, photographers and film crews all need to have a line of sight too – so don’t you go getting in the way! 

Quite a lot to contend with, don’t you agree? Positioning and placement of the referee is of course vital for ensuring both fighters comply with the rules and ensuring the safety of the competitors – you have to leap into action and protect a fallen foe once their competitor has turned out the lights. 

Being able to keep up with the pace of sudden or continuous movements while considering all else around you takes it out of a referee, believe me. Don’t forget, on smaller shows referees may not have a second official, so it’s down to you alone to cover ten, 12 or even 15 fights in one night! Sometimes I will be handling amateurs and professionals, so having the mental dexterity and presence of mind to be able to switch between rule sets and remember who is who and what is what really takes its toll. 

The physical and mental side of being a referee is often overlooked by many in today’s game. Referees may also have to contend with hours and hours of travel the day before the event itself, sometimes arriving in the early hours of the actual fight day. Flying across the world sounds glamorous, but there is nothing fun about being awake for over 20 hours and crossing multiple time zones to then be called upon to be at your sharpest. Very little (or at most, a couple of hours) sleep increases the mental and physical demands upon you. 

If your performance is faultless then you will hear no more about it, but dare you make a call that is questionable or misunderstood, then the excitable but angry and alcohol-fueled crowd, the keyboard warriors, the wolf-pack press and the disgruntled fighters and camps will be baying for your blood! Just try telling that lot you’re tired. 

My recent trip to Abu Dhabi opened up a brand new factor to contend with, and that was the stifling humidity and sapping heat of the Middle Eastern sun – a sure fire way to cut weight! 

Want to be a referee? Then be quick and be nimble, as those bantamweights can move around the cage at a ferocious pace that can tire you just by watching. Be big and strong, as a raging 300lb super heavyweight intent on separating his opponent from his senses may need to be hauled off his opponent while the ‘sledgehammers’ swing wildly, inches from your face. 

When that cage door locks, these are just some of the variables, conditions and circumstances that a referee has to contend with while in the line of duty. So, do you still want to be a referee? 

IN THE CAGE...

Each month Marc will look to explain situations that take place in the cage from a referee’s point of view. Here he discusses the complexities of how to deal with illegal knees. 

The ‘illegal’ knee in the Josh Koscheck and Paul Daley fight presented a contentious and debatable example of a common foul (Rule 17, kneeing the head of a grounded opponent). A grounded opponent is one which has any body part in contact with the canvas other than the soles of the feet – most commonly a knee or a hand. 

The delivery of knees to the head of a grounded opponent can be quite a common occurrence. A fighter, possibly smelling blood, could be in the middle of a fight-ending flurry and simply let one go. It takes a lot of self-control and discipline for a fighter to be fully aware of their opponent’s position. A deliberately thrown knee or kick to the head of a grounded opponent can result in disqualification if the opponent could not continue (providing that the referee deemed the strike as an intentional blow). Most often it is not an intentional foul, so after recuperation time is given to the fouled fighter (and for a doctor’s inspection) the referee will decide on the deduction of points, which can be up to two against the fighter who committed the foul.  

If it was deemed that the fouled fighter could not continue as the result of an accidental (as ruled by the referee) foul, then two options will occur. Depending on when the fight-ending accidental foul happened would determine whether the fight was automatically ruled a no contest (an end to the fight where neither fighter gains a win or receives a loss to their record) or went to the judges’ scorecards. Look for an explanation on technical decisions and technical draws in next month’s article. 

ASK THE REF Q&A

Don’t know your DQ’s from your decisions? Each issue, Marc will answer your questions on the ‘Unified Rules’ used in MMA. 

There were a couple of things that I thought Marc could answer or discuss. I have a question why, when there is an inadvertent groin strike, the ‘recipient’ is allowed five minutes to recover as it is an unintentional foul, yet the same rule doesn’t apply for an inadvertent poke in the eye. These are both fouls, yet one is treated differently to the other for the purposes of allowing the fighter to recover – why this is? Do you think that a fighter who has received an eye poke should be allowed five minutes to recover, as he would if he had taken one to the family jewels? Gareth, via email. 

The unified rule set does not currently cover eye pokes and it is presently dealt with at the ref’s discretion. What I will do upon noticing the foul (if unintentional) is halt the action and check the fighter – more often than not, they will blink a few times, rub their eye and return to action straightaway. If the fighter tells me “I can’t see,” then I ask for the doctor to come in and check the eye. This is, of course, all adding up as time for the fighter to recover. Once the doctor checks him and clears him I will ask the fighter if he wants to continue. If at that point he says “I can’t see” for a second time, I would call the fight off there and then, no question. The unified rule set states fouled contestants shall have up to five minutes to recuperate – in my opinion it is adequately covered dealing with it as described.  

I recently read your article on unofficial refereeing courses in the latest issue of Fighters Only. My name is Thomas Givans and I live in Northern Ireland. I have a keen interest in becoming an MMA referee – so much so that, if I knew the path to go to become one, I would seriously consider dropping out of university to pursue it full time. I am 19 years old and have no fight experience, but am a big fan of the sport. Can you help me out with some information on this? It will be greatly appreciated. Thomas Givans, Northern Ireland 

OK Thomas, the first thing is do not give up your education, please! You simply cannot make a living from being an MMA referee. A lot of fighters struggle to make a living and make ends meet, so what do you think it is like for a ref? Every referee, judge or official I know has a full-time job, me included. Refereeing is a hobby for me – a great and at times privileged hobby, yes, but still a hobby none the less. If you want to get into being an official, then find your local show and ask to help out. You may get a break with a couple of amateur bouts. Also, get to know the rule sets inside and out. Remember: Being a ref in MMA is not a career.  

GET IN TOUCH...

If you have any questions about refereeing, rules or regulations that you would like Marc to answer, email them to: 

[email protected] with ‘REF’ in the subject header.