Referees in the sport of MMA are underrated. It takes a lot of expertise to make split-second decisions that could save the careers and lives of the fighters in the cage. Talking about great referees, Marc Goddard has practically done it all. 

Referees in MMA take risks in the octagon as well. Premature stoppages are likely to change the course of a fighter’s edge in the fight, whereas late stoppages can be fatal to a fighter’s health. Good refereeing involves timely action from the individual by striking a balance between all the facets of the MMA sport. 

John Kavanaugh, Conor McGregor‘s coach, posted a story in which he explicitly stated that Marc Goddard was the “World’s best referee“. 

Marc Goddard has been a referee for some of the greatest title fights in the sport’s history and is also known for his controversies in the octagon. 

Marc Goddard: Exemplary, straightforward, and controversial

The individual is best known as the “British UFC Referee.” Most fighters and fans widely tout Goddard as one of the greatest referees in the sport of MMA. 

It is very rare for a referee to have a spotless track record. With fame and exposure to numerous title fights, Goddard has had his moments of controversy in the ring. 

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A fighter attacked him in the ring after Goddard forcefully broke up the fighter from a chokehold on his opponent. The fighter’s opponent already tapped, indicating the end of the fight. The fighter didn’t stop his choke despite Goddard interfering, which led to the latter forcefully breaking him up from the chokehold. 

This led to the fighter getting physical with Goddard, which later on led to his disqualification. This was practically unheard of in MMA. Goddard was also prey to Colby Covington’s wrath online after stopping Covington’s fight with Kamaru Usman prematurely during UFC 245. 

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He made a judgment call, and not everyone was happy with it. But again, it’s all part of the job. The referee does what he thinks is best for a fighter’s life. Not everyone would agree, but he does what he does.