Ask the guy who just took the ABC refereeing/judging training

[BenjaminDuffy]

Any insight on eye pokes and how to address the issue with fighters?

also, what’s your favorite color?

An interesting point was made: Poking someone in the eye is not the foul. The foul is extending your fingers towards their eyes, regardless of whether contact occurs. It's why refs will often caution a fighter to either have their fingers pointed toward the ceiling, or their fist closed, when no actual eye poke has taken place yet.

A lot of attention was given to addressing finger position in the pre-event rules meetings, then preemptive cautions during the fight if a fighter is extending their fingers in an unsafe/illegal manner.

 

[SeamusKB]

For judges: Damage is paramount. Takedowns that do not lead to damage, either through ground strikes or legitimate submission attempts, count for nothing. Being on top in guard is not inherently an advantageous position; i.e. you're not winning just by being there.

Were there any comments in regard to back control, e.g., body triangle?

 

[BenjaminDuffy]

Tell us about the training. Was it classroom based? Were past fights or decisions used to illustrate an idea or drive group discussions?

It was classroom based, with a couple of brief standing demonstrations. For example, Kevin had me face off with him in orthodox/orthodox and orthodox/southpaw, so he could explain to the class where the referee should position him or herself in each situation to have the best view of the action.

Lots of fight tape was involved, as examples of round scoring, referee calls, and identifying specific submission techniques: the ref needs to know when a particular choke is still defensible, versus when the fighter might pass out without warning. Also, when a fighter taps and the ref has about 10 seconds to tell the scorekeeper whether it was a D'Arce choke or an anaconda choke, it isn't a good look if you have to ask.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

When is it coming to Chicago? Is there a website where I can find the answer? I want to get into mma officiating and judging.
I planned on going to BJM school next year.

 

[D 1 Wrestler]

Whats the back of the head

 

[BenjaminDuffy]

When is it coming to Chicago? Is there a website where I can find the answer? I want to get into mma officiating and judging.
I planned on going to BJM school next year.

ABCboxing.com is your friend when it comes to announcements and sign-ups for future training events.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

ABCboxing.com is your friend when it comes to announcements and sign-ups for future training events.

Thank you

 

[BenjaminDuffy]

Whats the back of the head

Above the occipital junction (i.e. the bump on the back of your head) it's a two-inch-wide strip. Below the occipital junction, it's the entire back of the head starting from the ears. Saying "as long as you punch the ear, you're safe" is incorrect, because the glove can touch the ear while the actual striking surface is hitting the back of the head.

 

[D 1 Wrestler]

Above the occipital junction (i.e. the bump on the back of your head) it's a two-inch-wide strip. Below the occipital junction, it's the entire back of the head starting from the ears. Saying "as long as you punch the ear, you're safe" is incorrect, because the glove can touch the ear while the actual striking surface is hitting the back of the head.

So Conor's punches on Dustin were perfectly legal then, thank you.

 

[Sticko]

So, what's your next step towards being a judge or ref in the UFC, or at least for a regional promotion?
What will determine whether you become a judge or a ref? Or can people actually do both?
Can you think of something you learned about judging or reffing that is interesting, but most of us have no idea about?
Is how you view UFC refs and judges any different now, now that you've taken that course?

It is possible to do both judging and refereeing. The UFC has done cards in the recent past where somebody has done both jobs in the same night.

Jacob Montalvo is one example who is both a judge and a referee.

 

[CerebralKnievel]

Whats the back of the head

It's where Herb Dean isn't paying attention.

 

[BenjaminDuffy]

It is possible to do both judging and refereeing. The UFC has done cards in the recent past where somebody has done both jobs in the same night.

Jacob Montalvo is one example who is both a judge and a referee.

You're right, and in fact a lot of them do both. Also, Jacob was there, incidentally!

 

[FIghtxIQ]

On the refereeing front: Breaking up stalemate positions like wall-and-stall and lay-and-pray is subject to wide discretion by the referee.

For judges: Damage is paramount. Takedowns that do not lead to damage, either through ground strikes or legitimate submission attempts, count for nothing. Being on top in guard is not inherently an advantageous position; i.e. you're not winning just by being there.

Same for leg kicks: some of them are very damaging while others aren't. The judges' job is to decide whether, for example, Fighter A's leg kick had a greater impact than Fighter B's jab or right cross.

Sounds like they are finally starting to understand those aspects of the game. Damage should've been always the main criteria and not control and activity. That's where they made the mistake in the past. That let them breed people trying to game the rules and judging by wall n stall and lay n pray. This also removes the pitter patter light strikes that do zero damage and fighters using it to try and win on points. This will make fighters actually fight, which is a good thing for everyone, fans included. All the coaches/trainers still trying to teach those type of strategies/techniques need to stop and do something new now. No one wants to see that shit.

 

[Leonard Haid]

It is possible to do both judging and refereeing. The UFC has done cards in the recent past where somebody has done both jobs in the same night.

Jacob Montalvo is one example who is both a judge and a referee.

Good example. Yes, Jacob Montalvo. As for someone reffing and judging on the same card at a recent UFC event, sorry, I'm a little skeptical about that. Can you give me a specific?

Now that I've thought about it some more, I do recall Ref Jerin Valel judging a UFC event, but he didn't do any reffing.

 

[Deleted member 585708]

Thanks @BenjaminDuffy this is cool stuff.

I had a question re: organisational preferences. So in soccer, each season the referees are given specific instructions for additional focus. One year it was how long the keeper had the ball in his hands, and limiting that time (whereas it's often far too long, and nobody really focuses on it most of the time), this season it's not giving soft free kicks and penalties for more marginal contact.

Is there a governing body that gives such instructions to adapt to the current opinions/climate?

Also, when you mention 'discretion', is it frowned upon or acceptable to referee one promotion slightly differently to another? We all know Dana prefers sloppy striking, so is it feasible for a referee to be more inclined to stand or break two fighters up than say if two elite wrestlers were fighting in a regional promotion and most of the fight was tactical/positional?

I'm assuming the answer is 'no, you must referee the same way for everyone', but I wouldn't know for sure.

 

[PurpleStorm]

Presuming one gets hired as a judge / ref, is their employer the State Athletic Commission?

 

[Sticko]

Good example. Yes, Jacob Montalvo. As for someone reffing and judging on the same card at a recent UFC event, sorry, I'm a little skeptical about that. Can you give me a specific?

Now that I've thought about it some more, I do recall Ref Jerin Valel judging a UFC event, but he didn't do any reffing.

I'm like 99% positive people have done both on the same UFC card, but I don't remember names or dates off the top of my head. Montalvo might be one of the ones who did it. I will try to look this up later.

 

[RockyLockridge]

forget reffing please get into judging. need more confident judges who know what they are watching

 

[legatoblues]

Lots of fight tape was involved, as examples of round scoring...

Did they give examples of judging/scoring that had been done badly/wrong?

Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[brackis1]

Is your IQ above 90?
If yes, where can we lobby for your employment?

Best of luck sherbro