Thomas James "T.J." Ballester (born September 5, 1987), better known by his ring name AR Fox, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling.He is also known for his work in promotions like Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), Dragon Gate USA, and Evolve.Fox has also worked for Dragon Gate in Japan, Full Impact Pro (FIP), where he won the 2011 Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup . He openly said he screwed up in his officiating of Matt Brown vs. Pete Sell and this is a sign of a top-class referee. 16 Most Famous UFC Referees (Of All Time), MMA Diet on a Budget ($50/Week MMA Meal Plan), Why Do UFC (MMA) Fighters Do Cupping? Get live play-by-play and official results from Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane and Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso at UFC 285 in Las Vegas. Hes famous for being a great ref, but for being the biggest ref in all MMA, too even bigger than Big John. Not many people know that he was a police officer for over 20 years, too, and for 13 years, he was a referee simultaneously. TV Shows. Referees for preliminary card earn a base salary of about $30,000. Herb Dean made his debut as a UFC referee in 2004, having competed as a mixed martial artist previously. But, whats even more special is that even some referees became popular and famous, or infamous, on some occasions. They shake hands and the fight is on. Address: Zadarska ul. Unfortunately, he now has to tuck his beard into his shirt, as it was seen as unprofessional. Smith is a great referee thats getting more and more responsibilities in the most elite MMA promotion in the world. Throughout his 15-year career, Mulhall avoided majorly negative controversy in the ring caused by a bad decision; a testament to how good a referee he was. Luciana Andrade. Here, it appeared Dan gave preferential treatment to Kimbo Slice who avoided a TKO loss in the second round and went on to win by what many have called an early stoppage. A post shared by aro yaaa (@yamasakimma). Check below for the list of currently active UFC referees and their salaries per match and yearly contracts. Rosenthal was arrested and got 3+ years of jail after he pleaded guilty to marijuana possession. Joined: Having been in the business for over two decades he is considered among some of the most recognizable MMA referees. We strive to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you. Self - Spectator. This can be a distraction and annoyance for fighters if theyre unnecessarily receiving constant warnings for fouls they havent yet committed. The ex UFC champ claimed Peterson smelled of alcohol and cigarettes, which sparked a fire on social media, slandering Peterson. Herzog has avoided any major controversy over his refereeing decisions but was criticized in his early refereeing days for being unable to read fights, leading to indecision in stopping fights. Throughout his career, Steve was very indecisive and unsure about when to stop fights, often letting fighters take unnecessary damage. Latest MMA. (6 Ways). Cruz faced backlash for his comments on social media, and the former UFC bantamweight champion recently came under fire from one of his fellow colleagues: Jon Anik. . Out of all the MMA referees who populate the realm of major promotional regularity, Frank Trigg has the most impressive competitor resume. VIDEOS. The vast majority of MMA referees are actually not that big. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. At present, the UFC has seven active referees. As an amateur competitor in Muay Thai and BJJ, Peterson has earned a 'no nonsense' image for himself as a referee. Ariel, we know our own," Sonnen told Ariel Helwani when asked if Jones was clean at UFC 159. He is mostly known for his nickname no nonsense, which John Anik (commentator) loves to include every time he speaks about him. Every illegal blow shifts the momentum of a fight, so even if it happens accidentally, it should be penalized, and Herzog does that better than any other ref. However, surprisingly he did this time apologize on Twitter and own up to his mistake by saying he used the wrong choice of words. According to UFC Stats, Jourdain out-landed Burgos in total strikes 169 to 78 but nevertheless took the loss. The stretching 7,466-yard, Par 72 parklands features a set of tough Par 4s plus three of the Par 5s measure over 550 yards but are scoreable. John McCarthy defended referee Keith Peterson from recent allegations, UFC Fight Night preview, Urijah Faber weighs in, UFC's 2019 revenue & lots more. Marc Goddard is the most famous British referee in the UFC, and one of the most recognizable faces in the MMA world. Marc has also been criticized for not owning up to mistakes and ignoring criticism. This would have been an appropriate moment for referee Keith Peterson to step in and end the fight. He is the first-ever referee from the United Kingdom to be a part of the UFC. Despite not coming from an MMA/refereeing background Smith is one of the few UFC referees to have attained great success as a referee in a relatively small amount of time. He was the third most active UFC referee of 2020, having officiated 57 bouts. Mulhall stopped the fight in the second round, after which High stood up and shoved him in frustration. By. Following Dominick Cruz controversial stoppage loss to Henry Cejudo at UFC 249, The Dominator accused referee Keith Peterson of smelling like alcohol and cigarettes, insinuating that Peterson was drunk, or at least drinking, on the job. Shevchenko landed over 200 strikes while Cachoeira landed three, and Yamasaki didnt stop the fight at any moment. A referee is an important part of a UFC/MMA bout. What makes Dean so special is his fantastic decision-making. Most people didnt see Tims arm break, but Herb immediately saw it and quickly stopped the fight, preventing any further damage and potentially saving Tims career. Cruz has yet to reply, but expect a rebuttal in the coming days. Miragliotta had a few notable lapses in the cage, but overall did a fantastic job as a UFC ref. Johns nickname is Big, given to him by the original co-owner Art Davie after John lifted him in the air. Because There's A Fistfight Going On Somewhere In New York Right Now, And You Should Know About It, Funny how you say someone might think he was in a hardcore band For those unaware, Keith was the frontman for GFY and Losers Sometimes Win :). Age: 34 | Date of Birth: 1988.10.19 Last Fight: December 17, 2022 in UFC Weight Class: Lightweight | Last Weigh-In: 156.0 lbs Affiliation: N/A Height: 5'8" (173cm) | Reach: 70.0" (178cm) Career Disclosed Earnings: $658,000 USD Born: United States Fighting out of: Denver, Colorado Fighter Links: Personal Links: Worldwide Rankings Rankings FAQ #12 That said, I have so much respect for MMA referee Keith Peterson and his track record as one of the best in the business. Many believe its Anik who gave him the name no nonsense Keith Peterson, referring to Keiths demeanor. Mario has officiated in some of the biggest UFC fights, such as Brock Lesnar vs Couture (UFC 91), where Lesnar became champion, and Liddell vs Ortiz 2 (UFC 66), which was the first UFC event to 1 million PPV buys. Director/a. In the span of 20 months, Peterson competed seven times. Many praised Marc for his professionalism, and the event made him more famous than he already was. Over the past few years, Blake Grice has established himself in the big leagues of MMA officiating. He was shortly a professional MMA fighter before transferring to officiating. Unlike many MMA referees, Peterson is not a massive guy. Leon Roberts was extremely focused when refereeing, and had a reputation as one of the best UFC referees; he officiated fairly, decisively, and knew exactly how to implement the rules because of his vast experience. He quickly stepped in when it mattered and prevented unnecessary damage. Entry-level referees generally do not get called up to UFC. % Total str. I wish we did., ITS NOT TOO LATE TO WATCH UFC 249 GAETHJE VS. FERGUSON. Rinya Nakamura . UFC Bantamweight Title Bout Method: Decision - Split Round: 5 Time: 5:00 Time format: 5 Rnd (5-5-5-5-5) Referee: Keith Peterson W . Some UFC referees have a tendency to give unnecessary warnings, but Herzog officiates the rules as they should be; in terms of warnings and point deductions for illegal fouls, he never misses a beat. As can be seen from the video, he is a pretty good fighter and is well known in this. Your login session has expired. This list is not about the best or worst referees, but the most known names in the sport. UFC. The third man in the cage isnt why the masses tune in to watch fights. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. He started refereeing MMA fights in 2009 and has worked for the California State Athletic Commission since 2007. It seems like UFC refs become famous for all the wrong reasons, even if they have great qualities as well. Pat Barry. Yves was involved in the early days of MMA, being a member of the commission that legalized MMA as a sport in Quebec. He started officiating in 2001 and his first UFC appearance was in 2008 (UFC FN:12). GitHub export from English Wikipedia. Both match fees and PPV fees for referees depend on their experience and expertise level. *These are estimated numbers. Week after week, the officials grace the streams of MMA fans around the world. One of the few UFC referees without a background in martial arts, but this didnt stop Mark Smith from becoming one of the best referees. The stunning result produced wildly different reactions from both fighters as Namajunas, 28, fell to her knees in tears of joy. Before Keith Peterson was no nonsense he was throwing punches on the New Jersey regional scene. [deleted] 1 yr. ago. John is currently a co-host of the WEIGHING IN podcast. However, Leon is another referee who had his career tainted by a horrendously late stoppage, seen in the Jose Aldo vs Petr Yan fight (UFC 251). 4,070. Many fans put him up there with the best in the business in terms of refereeing quality. Bruce Buffer. He retired from competition in 2011 and debuted as a referee in 2014. To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders, Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications, .css-1diosym{color:black;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-1diosym{color:#fff;}}Published12:25,11 May 2020 BST@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-jirzs7{color:#72B97D;}}| Last updated13:28,11 May 2020 BST. Hes a former fighter (7-6 record) and loves the sport, describing himself as a referee trapped in a fighters body.. The only reason why theres even a debate between him and McCarthy is that Dean had several questionable mistakes or decisions over the years. Watch Rose Namajunas Get Her Belt Back On UFC Fight. Another UFC referee that was fairly unknown but respected later became famous only after a streak of horrible decisions inside the octagon is Steve Mazzagatti. His family has a history involved in martial arts and he has black belts in Judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which led him to found the International Yamasaki Academy; the first jiu-jitsu school open in the DC area (1995). MMA / 15 Most Famous UFC Referees of All Time. Referee: Keith Peterson Ilir Latifi vs. Aleksei Oleinik Round 1 - Alright, the only heavyweight fight on the card is up. "That was an early stoppage, 100 percent - I'm positive of it," Cruz told ESPN on the UFC 249 post-fight show via MMA Junkie. Immediately when I saw that ref, I was like man is there a way to veto a ref and get a new one? UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje (2022) | Reparto completo. The UFC refs get criticized a lot for stopping fights too early, not giving fighters the opportunity to recover. It's fair to question the stoppage, but I do not like to see his character getting assassinated. Despite this, Kevin remained calm and acted very professionally; earning him much praise from the MMA community. Only Jason Herzog (60) and Herb Dean (75) refereed more. Justified or not, Steve Mazzagatti is labeled as the worst MMA referee of all time, with some wondering how he made it as a referee in a sport where fighters lives are on the line. Despite this, hes going to be remembered for his most overwhelmingly controversial decision, which was an incredibly early stoppage of Cutelaba vs Ankalaev (UFC FN:169), where both fighters were still swinging on their feet. Chris wrongly identified a legal shot and gave Herman a long recovery time, who then made a comeback and went on to win the fight. "I don't believe I lost that fight, I believe Keith Peterson took that fight". Keith Peterson is a referee that was fairly unknown up until recently. Dom was a big jump as far as how articulate he was, how weird his style was to figure out, and how he would actually give thoughtful commentary on his fights. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Forums > Fight Discussion > UFC Discussion > Why does referee Keith Peterson wear long sleeves? He won the Referee of the Year award a staggering eight times, making him by far the best in that regard. Anthony Giordano. who is jett williams married tolist of catholic bishops in the world. T Rollie, Jul 16, 2014 #9. He worked closely with John McCarthy, but even Big John criticized him hard after the incident that made MacDonald known to the wider public. Highest Paid UFC Referees He is known for having a very calm demeanor, helping him remain focused and have high attention to detail during a fight. His refereeing longevity and short fighting experience mean he knows the rules inside and out and is well respected for his excellent decision-making in the ring. Chris formerly worked as a teacher and coach at Mohave High School from 1990 to 2002, which helped him transition as a martial arts referee. He has since resumed refereeing in 2021 but is yet to work for a top MMA promotion. str. Reparto (por orden de crditos) Ali Abdelaziz. He also teaches upcoming MMA referees for the Association of Boxing Commission and has worked as an MMA judge. Despite his praises, with fame and accolades comes scrutiny and controversy and Herb Dean isnt any different. They become household names among viewers. He officiated some of the biggest fights in UFC history and is a face that even casual fans recognize in the octagon. For example, Herb Dean was in charge of around 130 bouts in 2021, while Jason Herzog was part of only around 100 fights in 2021. Self - Octagon Girl. #UFC249. A fight he officiated went down in history when Conor McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds, making it the shortest title fight in UFC history. While the professionals who have immense experience get the best contracts and huge base salaries. Cruz pulled no punches as he blasted. Dan first refereed in the 1990s, when he ran his own MMA events and would sometimes officiate if he couldnt get a referee. Oops. Hes known as an incredible MMA referee, but he is famous for his awesome facial hair. The biggest fight he ever refereed was the Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier 3 fight on UFC 252. The UFC was founded in 1993 and the promotion would not be where it is today without the selfless and essential work of the great UFC referees. See what happened on the scales ahead of UFC 285. I myself witnessed him forcefully fingering a young girl as she was begging him to stop. Keep in mind when a lot of these people were first introduced to Cruz, the smartest fighters at that point were people like Frank Mir lol. Actually, I think he's the best". OK, so this is perhaps the most obvious of the bunch. He wrestled through High School and College. Jason High shoved Mulhall that refereed his fight against Rafael dos Anjos back in 2014. He developed his passion for MMA by working in a video store and watching UFC tournaments on VHS, and was attracted to the violence of the no holds barred nature. Let us know. As well as refereeing, he was a police officer for 22 years in total and was the head self-defense practitioner of the LAPD (1993) after learning jiu-jitsu at the Gracie Academy. The most significant occasions were his stoppage of the fight between Ben Askren and Robbie Lawler, while the other was for his late stoppage of a fight between Khalid Murtazaliev and CB Dollaway. Hes a great ref and will continue to progress for years to come. Beltran rocks a shaved beard but has a mustache almost reaching his hips. Please enter a valid email and try again. att Rev. However, some have questioned his speed in stopping fights and this may be down to his size. Another referee just like that is Josh Rosenthal. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG) Marc has been involved in the sport for 21 years since its inception and has refereed for 18 years. While they may have gained fame through officiating fights, many referees got started as competitors themselves just check the tape. However, commentators and fans have accused Marc Goddard of being arrogant and condescending towards fighters and others involved in the sport. Through the New Jersey Amateur Program he was able to begin competing in MMA. Herb speaks very clearly and concisely, which is necessary for a sport that has many non-native English-speaking fighters. MMA News. We are all passionate about different disciplines and martial arts and are used to discussing and comparing topics and curiosities concerning this fascinating world. McCarthy was born in 1962 and started officiating in 1994. s one of the best referees in this business. Keith Peterson is a dedicated and respected referee of MMA. MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997. Because of his background, Macdonald is known for staying calm under pressure, allowing him to officiate very well as he can remain focused on the fight at hand. Dana White heavily criticized him after the event, and Yamasaki never refereed in the UFC again. Originally from the UK, Roberts is an extremely experienced referee, first starting as a referee around 2002, and first officiating for the UFC in 2008 (UFC 89), in England. Following Dominick Cruz' controversial stoppage loss to Henry Cejudo at UFC 249, 'The Dominator' accused referee Keith Peterson of smelling like alcohol and cigarettes, insinuating that. Mircea May 15, 2020 John Pollock NEWS MMA NEWS **The UFC returns Saturday night with their latest Fight Night card from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. A post shared by Marc Goddard (@marcgoddard_uk). Keith Peterson is a dedicated and respected referee of MMA. These referees shoulder the massive responsibility of making sure that the fight stays within the realms of what is allowed and preventing fighters from committing fouls or worse sustaining serious injury. Roberts hasnt officiated a single bout after that up to this day. He was there as a manager that helped organize the event. May 12, 2020 10K Dislike Share The Schmo 213K subscribers Preview Clip on the upcoming Episode of The Schmozone Podcast. On top of this, Goddard fails to be intimidated or emotional in the octagon, as evidenced in his post-fight Bellator clash with Conor McGregor, who stormed the cage and pushed Marc. However, he didnt seem that hurt that the fight shouldve been stopped he never fell to the ground, lost his footing, or fell onto the fence. The list of (in)famous UFC referees continues with Kevin MacDonald. He officiated the third most UFC fights in 2021 (86) and is continuing the trend into 2022. Mostly known as the UFC ref with the long beard because of his lengthy Viking style beard which is braided, 2 feet long, and reaches his hips. With these many roles and responsibilities, how much does a UFC/MMA referee make per fight? Phone: +385 95 913 0078. He wrestled through High School and College. Before I start, you can check out the article about UFC referees salary if you are wondering how much the UFC referees are making. He got his nickname The Gold Standard from UFCs color commentator Joe Rogan and the promotions president Dana White, calling him the gold standard for all MMA referees. When it comes to the most famous and respected referees, not only in the UFC but MMA in general, Big John McCarthy is possibly number one. The best example of this was seen in the fight between Frank Mir and Tim Sylvia. 18. His early stoppage in Ben Askren vs Robbie Lawlor, where he mistakenly thought that Lawlor had gone unconscious due to a bulldog choke, was a huge blunder that brought him a lot of heat. He competed seven times in the UFC and challenged for the promotions welterweight championship twice. Im not saying the slander wasnt justified to some extent, but I strongly believe Lavigne deserves more praise than hes getting. T. The Japanese Brazilian MMA referee started working with the UFC at the first event the promotion ever organized in Brazil. Your email address will not be published. Dan had separated the two but that didnt stop Daley sucker-punching Koscheck after the bell. Cruz was out of line with his accusations. I wish they drug tested them. UFC 249 Referee Keith Peterson Brutally Responds To Dominick Cruz's 'Alcohol And Cigarette' Claim Dominick Cruz Makes Bold 'Alcohol And Cigarette' Accusation After UFC 249 Defeat Peterson, who has been a longtime fixture in UFC title fights, officiated contests early in the night without complaint. He retired from competition in 2011 and debuted as a referee in 2014. And the 35-year-old blamed his defeat on Peterson, who stopped the championship contest with just two seconds left in round two. He officially retired from MMA officiating a few years back, but many believe he might make a comeback soon. Dominick Cruz is not happy about the early stoppage against Cejudo, and blamed it on referee Keith Peterson being drunk and smelling cigarettes at UFC 249. In the span of 20 months,. Top female referees get $1000 onwards per fight in non-PPV events and $3500 onwards for PPV events. Former submission grappling competitor and coach, Marc Goddard was signed on by the UFC as a referee in 2008. Referee Mark Smith gave Harris every opportunity he could to fight his way out . Dean competed all over the map including bouts in the United States, United Kingdom, and South Korea. Keith Peterson is perhaps amongst some of the deadliest referees in the UFC. The most familiar face in European MMA refereeing is now one of the most universally used officials in the game today. These include the UFC, Strikeforce, King of the Cage, Bellator, and Affliction. Chris Tognoni has been refereeing for the UFC since 2010 and has also had an illustrious career as a referee for multiple promotions across the world. Mark only started refereeing in 2014, and despite this, hes quickly become one of the most recognized and respected referees in MMA. But what you likely didn't know about Keith Peterson is that he used to fight. The Greatest MMA referee of all time debate always comes down to McCarthy and Dean, and itll quite possibly be only Herb when its all said and done.