High profile refs in mma - highly accomplished martial artists themselves

[Spycho]

Originally Posted by Yardener

Here's Rosenthal explaining his experience/background:

http://fightland.vice.com/sitdowns/the-ref

This video made my day

[Blake900]

Originally Posted by squat

I wouldn't call Herb Dean highly accomplished as a fighter.

The fact that he's a pro fighter makes him a highly accomplished martial artist. What've you done?

[Blayt7hh]

Originally Posted by Aberinkula

Yamasaki has a black belt in both bjj and judo.

Pretty surprising, seeing as he's a ref who's pretty quick to stand fighters up.

He has an MMA training gym too, up in Maryland

[Blayt7hh]

Yeah I saw Herb Dean fight in King of the Cage. I think he won, but he didn't look very good hahah. Him and Yamasaki are my favorite refs though

[Andzso]

Cecil Peoples.
all the way!

[Malas]

So basically, a lot more people are guilty of fighter bashing than they realize.

[Gavster]

Steve Percival the Aussie ref has run one of the largest martial arts centre for years. He started teaching in 91 and holds a 4th Dan in Hapkido and a jujitsu black belt under the Will/Machida organisation. As we didn't have expert mma refs over here he trained under Big John.
http://www.ultimatefightingarts.com/About-Us.html

[Hotlunch]

herb dean: 2-3. hardly what i would call "highly accomplished"

[Snakesolidsnake]

Big John trained under the Gracie's before UFC 1. He wanted to fight in it, but they wanted Royce to be the only BJJ fighter.

[bjpenngoat]

yamasaki could probably destroy a few fighters lol.