Becoming an MMA referee at a professional level is not easy in any way. You have to go through an arduous process. A referee must be a knowledgeable person knowing everything about the fight, the rules and the laws of previous precedence. He must be quick and decisive to rule the on-going fight in the cage. With his impartiality and capabilities, a referee must earn the image of respect that his decision inside the cage is well respected by the fighters. Today we shall try to find out ways to become an MMA referee at professional level.
How to become an MMA referee
It is quite understandable that being an MMA professional referee is quite a matter of hard work. On the completion of an IMMAF(International Mixed Martial Arts Federation) International Referee & Judges Certification Course, the licences are awarded on the basis of individual referee and judging competency and experience.
Important steps to become mma referee:
A few important steps you have to follow to become an MMA professional referee as below.
MMA Terminology: You need to be well versed in Mixed martial arts (MMA). MMA is sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and also Ultimate Fighting Competition (UFC)and originally referred to as Vale Tudo. It is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorporating techniques from various combat sports, namely Boxing, Muay Thai, Judo, Karate, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling and other disciplines from around the world. The fighting venue is named in different names Octagon, Cage, MMA.
Knowing MMA rules: MM rules mean things that are forbidden which are called Fouls. Those are as follows:
- Holding the opponent’s shorts or gloves.
- Head-butting.
- Hair pulling.
- Grabbing the fence.
- Biting or spitting at an opponent.
- Fish hooking.
- Eye gouging of any kind.
- Placing a finger intentionally into any orifice, ir into any cut or laceration of an opponent.
Duties to be done for hopeful mma referee:
An MMA hopeful referee has to learn practically how to judge an MMA fight and how to deduct points. He has to follow the change of rules of MMA fights that often happen. To get a licence you have to complete a course of training that includes officiating in a boxing, kickboxing and of course MMA contest. At least 70% marks are needed to be scored in the examination administered by the commission. Also, you have to successfully pass the annual physical and opthalmology test. Of course, buying a licence depends on your serious dedication to follow the professional referee who you are working under. Like a disciple you will obey the already established professional referee who would happily teach you how to conduct a successful competition match.
Some key duties you perform:
During your training as an MMA professional referee you will shadow the referees assigned to the events. You have a lot of duties to be done that includes:
- Assisting with the pre-event rules meetings with the fighters and corners persons(coach,trainer).
- Assisting with cage (fighting venue) inspection to make sure no harmful objects thereat.
- Inspect the fighters before they enter the cage so that they cannot carry any harmful things with them as well.
- Collecting the judges’ cards after each round and giving them to the commission representative.
The more you practically assist the incumbent referees in fighting matches the more you will learn. After satisfactorily completing a few events of MMA fighting competition by assisting professional referees, your chance for getting a licence will be bright. Your request to the commission hopefully would be accepted.
You need a lot of patience to become an MMA Referee at professional level. You need at least three years of active experience as a referee for MMA fighting competition. You are also required to officiate at least 10 events of mma fights per year to prove your ability as a professional referee. But a real genius person can make the difference. His challenging determination can give him the early chance to officiate an MMA competition as a professional referee.