In any contest sports, the role of the referee is undeniable. The match cannot go ahead if the referee does not conduct the game by the rules. The credibility of the game depends on if the rules are followed properly. Like any established sport, the referee is the most integral part of any UFC event. The referees shoulder the vital responsibility to make sure that the fight stays within the rules.
Payment of MMA/UFC Referee:
A UFC referee for officiating a fight can earn from $500 to $2500 per fight. The payment varies on their experience and skill level. As an entry-level professional referee gets a minimum payment of $500 per bout, while a veteran referee Big John Mc Carthy got paid $1,900 for referring to the high-voltage fight Aldo vs McGregor. Big John Mc Carthy, is known as the godfather of UFC refereeing. He is a legendary figure for MMA fans as he has been in the business since UFC 2. He had earned a six-figure salary. There are other UFC referees named Herb Dean and Marc Goddard, who are usually called on to watch over the biggest fights. They are considered veteran referees who earn $2,500 per fight.
Highest-paid Active Referees in the UFC:
1)Herb Dean: Highly paid UFC Referee. Herb Dean is one of the highly paid UFC referees. In 2019, he was paid $15,000 for a pay-per-view fight and had $550,000 in yearly earnings.
With Big John retiring, Dean is without a doubt the best active MMA referee. Dean’s career is not just long but is also lauded for his successful officiating matches. From his first fight, he’s been consistently flawless at his service.
He is the most recognizable MMA referee of all time. He competed five times as a professional MMA fighter.
2)Jason Herzog: Number of Matches officiated 62, Base Salary $380,000. Also gets paid $10,000 for a Pay-per-view.
3)Mark Smith: 90 matches officiated, Base Salary $380,000. PPA $ 10,000.
4)Chris Tognoni: 86 matches officiated, Base Salary $380,000. PPA $ 10,000.
5)Keith Peterson: 53 matches officiated, Base Salary $380,000. PPA $ 10,000.
6)Dan Miragliotta: Dan Miragliotta’s salary maximum of $550,000 based on his selection in Bellator fight events and UFC pay-per-view cards $12.5k maximum pay.
7) Marc Goddard: British national Marc Goddard’s name is included in the list of UFC referees. It is supposed that he too earns a six-figure salary annually. His devotion to fighting and umpiring reformation is worth mentioning. Generally, the top UFC referees get paid up to $1,500 per fight but receive more money for title fights and main events.
Nature of payment for MMA/UFC referee:
Experienced and expert referees get both match fees and pay-per-view (PPV) fees for officiating MMA/UFC competitions.
When highly accomplished UFC fighters fight, especially for a title contest, the experienced referees are highly paid. Professional referees usually earn money amounting from $1,000 to $2,500 per fight. While they get from $5,000 to 10,000 or even up to $15,000 per fight as a bonus in PPV bouts. For example, Marc Goddard got $2500 for his services in UFC 279 PPV main event bout that took place between Nate Diaz and Tony Ferguson. Also, he would have got a PPV bonus on top of this amount ranging around $10,000.The yearly earnings of MMA referees depend on the number of fights a referee officiates. For example in 2021, Herb Dean was in charge of referring to around 130 bouts, while Jason Herzog was in charge of only around 100 fights. Therefore, Herb Dean’s yearly earnings would be much more than that of Jason Herzog, even if both men are on the same salary. The top MMA/UFC referees, such as Big John Mc y is mostly paid a six-figure salary
Payment for Novice Referee:
Since entry-level referees generally do not get called to officiate a UFC fight, they serve at other promotional fights. They receive $350 to at best $650 per fight.
Top female referees earn $1,000 onwards per fight without PPV events and earn $3,500 onwards with PPV events. The entry-level pay scale is the same regardless of female or male referees.
Current UFC Referees:
The Athletic Commission hires the current referees for officiating UFC. There are a few highly-paid referees, mentioned above, who have been regular to referring fights in the UFC in the last few years. In 2018, Big John Mc Carthy retired from UFC as a most influential referee and moved to Bellator as a commentator.
The payout structures for MMA/UFC referees overwhelmingly differ depending on their skills, and experiences. The referees are impeccably good at officiating extreme fights to make the sport enjoyable for the spectators, keeping it within rules and regulations. The payment amount for all the referees might not be the same and it may vary from time to time.