Undercard Superstar Chats with Marc Goddard

(Marc is a former professional fighter and veteran referee that has presided over some of the biggest fights in MMA, most recently, Brian Stann vs. Wanderlei Silva.  Recently, we had a chance to bounce a few questions off of Marc about the fight game.)

Undercard Superstar: You transitioned from a career as a pro fighter to one of a professional referee.  Why did you choose that and why don’t we see more fighters make that transition?  I think we were all, as fans, excited when we found out Renzo Gracie was becoming a licensed judge, and I think it would be very beneficial.

Marc Goddard: I became a referee by chance, by accident! I was injured and due to compete on a show around 7/8 years ago. The promoter was let down last minute by a ref and asked me to stand in and the rest is history as they say. The question of former fighters becoming officials is much discussed! And I don’t believe that every single former fighter automatically becomes a good official. There are other qualities required aside experience. 

UCS: Would you encourage fighters who are near the end of their career or thinking of a career change to pursue being an official?  A guy like Mark Coleman, for instance, who just needed hip replacement surgery, but has been around the MMA scenes for decades and has a wealth of information comes to mind.

MG: Again much like above. Not every single former fighter automatically becomes a great referee or judge. Would it help? It almost certainly should but it simply cannot translate to everyone. It has stood me in great stead, but only because I believed  I had the attributes needed to go hand-in-hand with being a good official. Research and ability as a referee going alongside firsthand actual experience were great, but the understanding required is great also. Fighting as prerequisite, no, but training in MMA to some extent should be at least a prerequisite.

UCS:  Something I pointed out during the Fuel card about your reffing was that it was very refreshing to see you give complete, concise, clear warnings and consequences for low blows, because oftentimes it seems like refs seemingly take points or allow fouls at random.  Herb Dean deducting two points from Alex Caceres after one warning last year comes to mind.  Did you adopt that strategy due to any specific instance as a fighter where maybe a ref wasn’t as clear with you or your opponent and ended up doing you wrong?

MG:  No, it is clear to me that when a could blow lands a fighter would, generally, not intend to do so. Allowing the first to pass and then clearly talking to the fighter reminding him that he now needs to think about his actions, his choices and his technique. If you are not showing me that you taking on board what I say and thinking about your choice of strike then landing with the same thing repeated would leave me no option but to deduct a point. The onus rests with the fighter entirely. Also worth noting that a lot of times the unseen factor is when a fighter throws an inside low kick but at the time the opponent moves so his movement actually caused the blow to land wayward then it is hard, almost unfair to penalize a fighter for that action. Should it be the opposite then it leads me back to my first point.

UCS:  You’ve worked all over the world in just about every corner of it.  I was watching a card the other day that you were working in Jordan, for instance.  What’s your favorite place that you’ve been in your travels?

MG:  Yes I have been most fortunate to have traveled the world over many times seeing some great places, meeting some great people and experiencing things that without MMA I may otherwise have not. I try to take something from every place I go to and many and all are special in their own unique way. The Far East, Australia, and of course Brazil do stand out. 

UCS:  Along those same lines, what’s the most memorable or best fight that you’ve worked?  A couple that come to mind?

MG:  Damn! Too hard. Again so many memorable fights over the thousands over the years, not just on the world stage but domestically too. I simply could not narrow down to a best ever fight as it could probably change on a weekly basis.

UCS:  You’re one of the engineers behind SAFE MMA, can you tell us a little bit about SAFE?

MG:  SAFE MMA was an initiative to bring a common, structured and much needed base level medical practice for fighters to MMA in the UK, something until then we did not have in the absence of commissions etc. it was born out of my own experiences obviously but also for the much need necessity and urgency for this to take place. It was a long time coming and many many meetings over a long time with other like minded dedicated people thriving for the same belief. The founding promotions, the doctors, the MMA reps all together pulled in getting this done. It will hopefully all  fall in line in time with the UKMMAF (governing body in development) and is already mutually recognized. The base ethos is to ensure fighters are blood tested, medically cleared and post fight medically checked with the very important and way over looked medical suspensions for fighters. 

UCS:  Name one rule you would change if you could.

MG:  I’m not too sure, there are reviews probably needed for the unified rules, maybe the 12-6 elbow but to be honest I think that we are pretty much there right now. Constant evaluation and research is needed and is welcomed.

UCS:  Soccer kicks to the head of a downed opponent: Yay or Nay?

MG:  No definitely no! Pride was immense it was awesome but its been and gone. The sport has evolved and it has evolved for a reason. We simply cannot see two heavyweights soccer kicking each other trapped against a cage. Most definitely not for me.

UCS:  Something of a running plotline in the States is that British fighters tend to get exposed at the highest levels to fighters who are predominately wrestlers due to the real lack of high school, college, and amateur wrestling scene in the UK, especially as compared to the US.  Is that something you’ve noticed and/or is it something that’s changing?

MG:  Of course the UK will be at a disadvantage in terms of the raw element of the sport of wrestling – it’s school curriculum in the US. We have some good wrestlers in the UK but the overlooked part is the actual wrestling for MMA and its application to a fight. Add the factor of time also, MMA is still very new and over the years things will evolve and improve in the UK as a nation, just like BJJ has. We will never be a world force in wrestling but at the same time we have to be realistic and handstand the task at hand.

UCS:  Last, but not least, Marc, as someone who had a better view than anyone, can you give us some of your thoughts about Wandy vs. Stann from the third man in the cage?

MG:  Well going back to the above about memorable fights here is one you could on any given day most certainly add to that list! It was an incredible fight for sure and an instant fan favorite. Much respect to Brian Stann for his approach to that fight and going full toe to toe – those exchanges were just insane! A true and very deserving of the tag warrior – Awesome stuff.