Such certification requires a comprehensive examination to assess the knowledge and skills of the prospective referee. When will Jamahal Hill defend? It is important for potential referees to do their research and find out which certifications are accepted in their area. This implies that obtaining a license is essential for your MMA refereeing career since you cannot legally continue without one. Fouls - explanations and break down. Furthermore, referees must keep their cool even when faced with hostile competitors. Thats right, unlike the UFC some smaller organizations use one or two refs for the entire night. It is no secret that Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) referees have a tough job. That is to say, I cannot be a doctor or nurse by casually hanging around a hospital for a few weeks. Well, what are you waiting for? Lastly, you can also try to make a name for yourself by having a unique image. So, if you ever pondered about being an MMA referee youve come to the right place! What does it take to be an MMA referee? - ESPN McCarthy throughout the course continually stressed the responsibility the referee has in protecting both fighters. Judges are ringside observers who score the match and make the final decision in case theres no K.O. We need new referees and judges. This profession requires dedication, hard work, and a commitment to learning the rules and regulations of the sport. A UFC referee must recognize when someone is unconscious because of too many blows or kicks to the head, which might result in death. This usually costs between $50 and $200, depending on the state, and you must pass a formal test to obtain a license. What is he hitting? Both John McCarthy and Herb Dean provide referee training classes that will teach you the fundamentals of refining an MMA bout. McCarthy was a spectator at UFC 1 on Nov. 13, 1993, at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver. How Can I Become An MMA Referee? - MMA Panda The first thing is knowledge. Who did the most damage? If you can secure a stable place, it will be all worth it since you can look at stable employment with higher promotions. Two theoretical and one practical element make up a good refereeing course. This includes familiarizing yourself with the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, which are the official regulations for professional MMA competitions. In fact, when the very first UFC event was held 25 years ago, the company boasted there were "no rules, no scores and no time limits.". Where the referee works, which promotion they are affiliated with, and their level of experience all play a role in determining their salary. Raimondi's legitimate questions: Lesnar back in the UFC? Simply contact the referee development officer at your local County FA to get the ball rolling. The job of the referee is to keep the fight within the rules, start or stop the fight when they see a knockout, submission, tap out, or serious injury, and do many other things. To achieve this, the best thing you can do is contact the event organizer and try to get on the card. Additionally, some jurisdictions may also have minimum wage requirements for referees. All in person courses for applicants who successfully pass and certificates issued are recognised by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation [IMMAF] and the Association of Boxing Commissions [ABC]. The criteria is very strict and you have to be able to, after completing the course, freely and normally communicate with McCarthy and his colleagues about the specific topics and issues related to MMA and the fights. The qualification attained is a prerequisite to officiating at IMMAF championship events. These include their. Well, now is the time to start. Step by Step Guide, Difference Between MMA Referees and Judges. Additionally, applicants must have a minimum of three years of professional experience. Because of the nature of the task, COMMAND has strict passing criteria. These are crash courses that typically cost a few hundred dollars for a few days of material. Shock new details emerge about the amateur boxer accused breaking a How To Become An Mma Referee - Fighting.net Do it! ", There was a time when there was no right or wrong in mixed martial arts. They normally do around 3 courses a year maybe more! A licence can be obtained either from a public commission or via private courses. Chuck Norris still trains well into his 80s, Entrepreneur Gary Vee gives advice to upcoming fighters. youre there to protect the fighters and the fight, not to enforce public opinion and whatnot. The difference is even more visible with pay-per-view events, where women earn just $3,000, compared to the more than three times higher amount their male peers earn. "The state of California has wanted to put Frank in certain situations and I've told them, 'Don't do that yet. You might not become Big John, but you can reach the top. So, what exactly do you require? Most state athletic commissions will need you to have a physical and, in some situations, an eye test, as well as some form of training. Again, the fans might not agree with you a lot of them do come to these types of events just to see the brutality of the fights but youre not there to please them, youre there to protect the game. Step by Step Guide. It is important to understand the rules and regulations of MMA, as well as any changes that may arise, in order to ensure fair and impartial officiating. An entry-level MMA referee earns around $250 each fight, or roughly $14,500 annually. "I've had athletic commissions ask me about my students," McCarthy said. He needs more time. I have been told I would make a good referee, and I agree. "Your job is to protect the fighters. It may be tough to get assigned before officials and judges who have already established themselves within state sports commissions or amateur MMA-sanctioning bodies. In addition to upholding the integrity of the Athletic Commissions, your competencies affect not only a promoters reputation but also a fighters career and potentially even their life. Hope this helps :) Another crucial point to mention is that a referee must continually monitor and stay current with changes. The second step is to attend an MMA referee course and pass an exam. With a yearly income of around $60,000 it is evident that women referees are discriminated and that should definitely be fixed somewhere in the future. In the US, 2 paths can lead you to your professional license to become a referee. Some promoters may offer a flat fee for services rendered, while more experienced referees may be paid more for higher levels of competition. To be successful in their application for a Class A licence, a Class B Cutman must demonstrate; In order to be eligible to participate in an IMMAF International Cutman Certification course, participants must already have a national level Cutman Certificates Grades C & B and have a minimum of two years national level experience. One example is COMMAND, a private refereeing course initiated by Big John McCarthy, one of the best and most famous MMA judges ever. But perhaps the most important piece of advice I give on this subject is something that holds true in any industry you simply have to put the hours, days, weeks, months and years into building your profile, your experience and your reputation. experience and victories. Only IMMAF official signatures, dates, the event and duties may be entered into the log book which may be presented as evidence on application for Class A Licensing. Promoters often offer a flat fee for services rendered, while more experienced referees will be paid more for higher levels of competition. The first requirement is knowledge. There are actually a lot of technicalities, formalities, and weird, uncommon rules that you may need to learn that can be picked up in these courses. I don't give a f--- if the fans boo or don't like me. As mentioned in the previous section, theres also the point of nepotism. Referees must also have excellent physical fitness and stamina. what he is doing. I do not believe in modern MMA that it is imperative to have competed in the sport to be a good referee, but this was over 10 years ago when MMA was still basically in its infancy in the UK, and a little extra experience went a long way. Basically, some commissions will favor their friends and give jobs to the boys instead of those worthy of the job. Made by Passion, Association of Boxing and Combative Sports Commissions, The Best Dumbbell Exercises for Chest Definition, Chess Boxing Rules (Plus) Definition Thereof, Hanb Vs. J Whats the DIFFERENCE (and Similarities). Finally, you might strive to build a name for yourself by having a distinctive image. For example, entry-level referees and female referees earn a lot less than the pros. Our mission is to provide an online platform where martial arts enthusiasts can come together to share their ideas, experiences, and knowledge. For something that could be simple, getting a state license can be quite a long, tedious process. What now? So, how much do they get paid? REFEREE DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS. What are the qualifications and requirements to become an MMA referee? We can all acknowledge that an MMA ref is essential in making a fight honest and safe. He is always inside the octagon and has to watch out that the fighters respect the rules and each other. You must get at least 90 percent on each component in order to pass the class. When it comes to becoming an MMA referee, there is a lot that goes into it. Marc is a former MMA fighter, with a forgettable pro record of 7-6. Becoming an MMA referee at a professional level is not easy in any way. If you move in MMA circles then you may meet the right people. Like. There are no hiding places and it all comes out in the wash in the end. We are here to provide you with news, views, high quality articles and more from a variety of disciplines. Basically, in a world where most of the refs look the same, you should try to stand out and get recognized. 10 point must, scoring criteria and its application. I know the ground, I know the stand up and I don't mind seeing people get hurt.". Professional fighters are paid around $2,500 each fight, with about $10,000 extra for PPV events. How do you become a UFC referee? We had a guy named Joel Sutton fighting Geza Kalman and he head butts him, which was legal at the time, and he sticks his fingers into his cut and pulled down. After UFC 2, McCarthy understood what Barreto went through during the first event. Your best bet is obviously to be training in an MMA gym and then speak to the coaches about attending events where you can network with officials and small time promotors. Online MMA Referee School, Workshop, Training Manuals and information to help you learn how to become a licensed, certified MMA Referee. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. FA REFEREE COURSE. IMMAF awards licenses for refereeing and judging internationally in MMA. But lets say that it is somehow just to pay the less experienced referees less, but what about women? As an affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases through various sellers. To obtain a license, contact your states athletic commission directly. So, what do you actually need? The class typically reaches its 20-person maximum with more participating in a separate judge's course. How to become an MMA & Kickboxing referee (UK) : martialarts - Reddit MMA now has extremely well-defined and explicit regulations to master before entering the combat arena. "Actually, the very first fight at UFC 1 got me my job to be an official.". You must start at the bottom and work your way up, much like MMA fighters. Overall, becoming an MMA referee is no easy task. He is constantly within the octagon and must ensure that the competitors follow the rules and respect one another. The sport is evolving so fast, you must either evolve with it or fall behind.". In truth, Joo Carvalho died after his battle with one of Conor McGregors pals. In most cases the arms are considered defensive weapons. Private courses are more expensive, but they might also offer better insight and more detailed courses. Few fighters have seen and done as much as Trigg in the cage, but McCarthy is cautious about putting him in certain situations as a referee. He did say they teach MMA referee courses, You just missed one on the 1/11/2009. Being a professional referee is more than just a profession, its a passion that you have to nourish and itll probably be worth it someday. The question I am asked probably more than any other is, How do I get started as a referee and judge in MMA?. What kind of referee certifications are available? Finally, things may become a little too hot in the octagon. Those who decide to pursue a specific certification can expect to take more specialized courses, such as rules and regulations, safety protocols, and officiating techniques. Of course, these are only official figures, and there are reports that some of them are significantly higher. Fighting.net is an online community dedicated to all things combat sports. These are, of course, just official numbers and there are speculations that some of the numbers go even higher. "No one can know it all. I remember feeling instantly comfortable with the fighters, as we shared the same changing areas at some of the shows Id fought on previously. The job requires a great deal of physical agility and the ability to stay focused during intense fights. They must be able to remain impartial and objective so that they can make the best decisions for the fighters. Those who have just qualified and attained a Class A licence as a Cutman may service both amateur and professional matches, including main event and title fights. A referee must be knowledgeable, he must be quick and decisive, he has to have a certain level of authority and he has to know what he is dealing with, i.e. MMA referees come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from professional athletes to martial artists. This certification is necessary to prove that the referee has a comprehensive understanding of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts and all other applicable rules and regulations. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The job of the judges is to observe the action and score . The next part is knowing the rules and fouls of the sport and being able to apply past precedent to situations you are faced with. It's not that Frank can't handle the fight. The courses cover a variety of different aspects but more on that later while shadow refereeing covers the necessary practical knowledge. It's about domination, damage and duration.". Recommendation letter from national federation. Some people wont be able to reach the likes of John McCarthy to learn from, so you may have to go to a local course instead. This is highly dependent on your location, as each commission operates differently. After the course, potential referees must pass a written exam to demonstrate their knowledge. Its not comparable to learning civil and penal statutes that much we can say but its certainly not like reading a tabloid. Three persons truly matter in every spectacular UFC fight. He put me on my back and applied pressure from a side control position. Please acquaint yourself with the techniques mentioned as a requirement for the class since you need to recognize and name the takedowns, submissions, and positions displayed during testing. Tuli charged Gordeau early in the fight and was pushed to the ground. Similarly, if they officiate more fights, their chances of making more increase. Although your priority should be on fighter safety and fairness, this is still something to consider. "If you're in there and you don't know the basics of positions and what they do and when a person is in trouble and when they're not in trouble and more importantly what they need to do to get themselves out, you're not doing those fighters service and you're not doing yourself service. The standards for officiating or judging MMA events differ by state commission or association. He simply could not stomach being inside the Octagon as someone was getting unnecessarily beaten without the ability to step in and stop the fight. When it comes to becoming a successful MMA referee, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the certifications available and the qualifications and requirements needed to obtain them. Gerard Gordeau, a kickboxer, fought Teila Tuli, a sumo wrestler, in the first UFC fight, and Joao Alberto Barreto, a Brazilian black belt who trained under the Gracie family, was the referee. Being an MMA referee offers a number of benefits. The final step in becoming a referee is to gain experience in the MMA field. Another thing to note, you may referee an entire event without rest. It should be evident that finishing the course does not guarantee you a license from any State Athletic Commission or any assurance of employment as an MMA referee or judge.