Former UFC champion shares unfiltered take on MMA referees, calls for major improvements

TL;DR

Former UFC champion Forrest Griffin advocates for improved officiating in MMA, suggesting that referees should undergo fitness and reaction tests. He emphasizes that even minor mistakes by referees can lead to serious consequences in combat sports.

Officiating in mixed martial arts has long been in question, with errors still prevalent in the sport's modern era. Fans have been calling for improvement in both the judging and refereeing departments for decades, and one former UFC champion believes he may have a fix.

Even the best officials are prone to mistakes, as seen inside the octagon with the likes of Herb Dean, Jason Herzog, and Marc Goddard. Unlike other sports, one referee's fault may not be too damaging, but that isn't the case in combat sports, as one seemingly minor slip-up can lead to a lifetime of damage.

There have been many instances where referees are too late to stop a fight, allowing someone to take unnecessary damage. Hoping to improve this area of MMA, former UFC light heavyweight champion and The Ultimate Fighter 1 winner, Forrest Griffin, shared a potential fix to the issues.

"This message is in no way, shape, or form reflective of the UFC and/or their viewpoints," Griffin said in a video on Instagram. "But, I had a thought as I was watching these fights this weekend. Why isn't there a fitness test or reaction test to be a referee? Shouldn't you have to be able to move x amount of human off of x amount of human, right?"

"Like, shouldn't you have to react? Like, shouldn't there be some formal testing to make sure that you're about to, you know, intervene in the fight at the right time, and saving someone's health? I don't know. Why isn't there? Maybe there should be."

The sport's officiating could use a big revamp. As Forrest Griffin rightfully stated, better training and stricter evaluation would ensure the best in class are hand-picked, guaranteeing fewer mistakes and better overall performances each week.

Listen to Griffin's referee rant below.

Q&A

What improvements does Forrest Griffin suggest for MMA referees?

Forrest Griffin suggests that referees should undergo fitness and reaction tests to ensure they can effectively manage fighters during bouts.

Why is officiating in MMA considered problematic?

Officiating in MMA is problematic due to frequent errors that can lead to serious injuries, as even minor mistakes can have significant consequences in combat sports.

Who is Forrest Griffin and what is his background in MMA?

Forrest Griffin is a former UFC light heavyweight champion and the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 1, known for his contributions to the sport and advocacy for better officiating.