Refereeing a mixed martial arts fight isn’t as easy as it might seem at first glance, given you need to have a solid understanding of martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Muay Thai, and Wrestling. You also need to have a solid understanding of human anatomy since a referee’s primary role is to ensure both combatants’ safety inside the cage.
A professional MMA referee has an extensive knowledge of martial arts and the rules of mixed martial arts. Refs determine when a fight starts as well as when to stop the clock to address issues, and when a foul has been committed. They also get to decide the punishment when a fighter commits an infraction. Minor fouls can lead to warnings or point deductions, while significant infractions can lead to a fighter being disqualified and referred to the sanctioning body overseeing the event for further investigation.
While it is common to see the same referees calling fights in major MMA promotions these professionals aren’t employed by promotions. They work for the athletic commissions that oversee these events.
Five Mixed Martial Arts Referees That Can Kick Serious Butt
Ready to find out who these referees are? Let’s take a look at some mixed martial arts referees who are more than capable of defending themselves if they ever need to:
1) Frank Trigg
Frank Trigg was one of the pioneers of mixed martial arts, taking his first professional bout in 1997 when most people had no clue what the sport was, and rules were nonexistent. Trigg finished his first seven opponents before suffering his first loss to Hayato Sakurai.
Frank rebounded off the loss by finishing his next three opponents, which earned him a deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and a title shot against Matt Hughes, the longest-reining welterweight in the promotion’s history at that point. Trigg ended up coming close to finishing Hughes early in the fight before succumbing to a rear-naked choke.
Trigg went on to face other MMA legends like Georges St. Pierre and Robbie Lawler before getting cut from the UFC. He bounced around various smaller promotions before returning to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2009. He retired from mixed martial arts a few years later.
Trigg was approached by the famous referee “Big” John McCarthy in 2011, who offered his referee training course. By 2014, he was already refereeing amateur MMA fights and made his UFC debut as a ref in 2017.
Frank isn’t just a referee who knows how to fight; he was among the top welterweights in mixed martial arts during his prime.
2) Herb Dean
Herb Dean has emerged as the most popular and respected referee in mixed martial arts today. He is often seen refereeing fights in major MMA promotions like ONE Championship, UFC, and Bellator.
Some of the accolades Dean has won over the years include winning the Fighters Only Magazine World MMA Referee of the Year award nine times.
Herb is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and kickboxer who tried MMA before committing to becoming a referee. He went 2-3, finishing both opponents he defeated. Herb fought in the U.S., U.K., and South Korea. The most notable opponent he faced during his fighting days was Joe Riggs, who went on to become one of the top welterweights in the UFC at one point.
Today, Herb is viewed as the gold standard for MMA refs, and he’s been part of the biggest fights in the sport, such as Conor McGregor‘s super fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov. His consistent performance and ability to handle high-pressure situations have earned him the respect and admiration of fighters, fans, and colleagues alike.
3) Mark Goddard
Goddard is one of the most familiar faces in Europe’s MMA scene and has officiated his share of big fights. Before becoming a ref, Goddard tried his luck in the mixed martial arts scene, competing 14 times during his career.
Goddard fought for mostly smaller promotions like Cage Rage and Cage Warriors in the U.K. Goddard walked away from MMA in 2008 after compiling a 7-6-1 professional record.
Goddard’s experience inside the cage has influenced his refereeing style as he often focuses on keeping things fair inside the cage and fighter safety. He’s also committed to mentoring and training new officials for the sport.
4) Keith Peterson
Keith “no nonsense” Peterson has emerged as one of the top referees in mixed martial arts thanks to his no-nonsense approach and solid understanding of many of the techniques used inside the cage.
He built up a 4-3 professional MMA record in less than two years before deciding to fully commit to being a referee. He finished his opponents in two of his four wins. The highlight of his short mixed martial arts career was a trilogy with Jose Villanueva, who won the rubber match to gain a 2-1 advantage in the series.
Despite being one of the more respected referees in the fight game, Peterson has also faced some challenges, including occasional criticism from online viewers. Nonetheless, Peterson is recognized and appreciated for the good work he has done as both a referee and a former athlete.
5) Blake Grice
Grice had a short stint as an amateur MMA fighter from 2001 to 2003. He went 4-1 as an amateur before transitioning to mixed martial arts. He has officiated many fights with MMA promotions like the Professional Fighters League, Bellator, and others.
Grice has emerged as one of the most respected referees, and he judges MMA fights from time to time. He works as a martial arts instructor when he’s not officiating fights.
Consider Getting Some Fights Under Your Belt If You Want To Ref MMA Fights
Having a solid background in martial arts gives you a massive advantage as a mixed martial arts referee. It lets you anticipate potential issues before they occur and empowers you to make better decisions inside the cage.
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