My Goal to become a MMA Ref

Priceinator · 03:44 PM

Being a huge fan of MMA, I'm always looking for new ways to get involved with the sport. Lately, I've been feeling really productive, so I've decided to start taking the proper steps in my life so that MMA is more than just a spectator sport for me.

I am going to join a gym this month and start training, which I am extremely excited about. I've been doing stand-up and ground-game stuff on the side over the last year, but actually going into a facility will be awesome.

I also go to thinking about something else though...

Referring.

I'm 21 years old and live in Arizona. Legislature was recently passed here to allow sanctioning of professional mma events, as well as the expansion of amateur events under the state commission.

I will be finishing up my college degree here within the next year or so, and being an MMA ref seemed like a pretty cool side job to have.

So...I began looking into what steps to take. I went down to my state athletics commission and talked it over with the people down there. Unfortunately, the commissioner himself is on vacation and won't be back till next week.

The information I got, however, was semi-helpful:

I will certainly need to go to a few seminars (which are not planned in advanced and sort of just crop up) and get my foot in the door some how. AZ is really an infant in terms of its mma regulations, so the process will probably take much longer than a state like Nevada.

Other than that, I'm pretty bamboozled. I'm just going to keep calling the commissioner until I get more info.

If anyone has any information they would like to share - please do so.

Thanks in advance.

Priceinator · 08-01-2008, 04:32 PM

omega bump

thoughtsone · 08-01-2008, 04:35 PM

I too would love to do that.

The info I got in Cali when I asked about it was, you have to have had 5 years of experiance reffing combat sports prior to being an MMA ref.

So I asked how do I do that...well simple politics. Schmooze your way into boxing or kickboxing for 5 years then submit your resume for an MMA ref position.
Which kinda sucks because boxing refs require previous experience as well...its kinda vicious circle, but it can be done.

A-Lexasoarus · 08-01-2008, 04:45 PM

i live in AZ and the Athletic commision is shit here... MMA is sanctioned by the AZ boxing commision and i have worked with them. they are not helpful at all... good luck with getting your foot in the door.

have you ever been to a Rage in the Cage event?

if you have. you will notice its the same ref every single time. and the ref is horible... the guy is an idiot. to give you an example of how dumb this guy is... i went to RITC to support a training partner.., he caught the guy in a triangle. the guy then fished hooked his mouth to try to escape.. the ref then stoped it.. stood them up and took a point away from the guy who fished hooked him.. my coaches were calling the ref an idiot it should of being a DQ so after all this arguing the ref starts them back in the same position.. how do you start some one back in a triangle choke?

man i really hope you actually become a ref so we can get a better ref in AZ.

good luck.. keep me posted

and by the way where are you going to start training?

Priceinator · 08-01-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Lexasoarus

i live in AZ and the Athletic commision is shit here... MMA is sanctioned by the AZ boxing commision and i have worked with them. they are not helpful at all... good luck with getting your foot in the door.

have you ever been to a Rage in the Cage event?

if you have. you will notice its the same ref every single time. and the ref is horible... the guy is an idiot. to give you an example of how dumb this guy is... i went to RITC to support a training partner.., he caught the guy in a triangle. the guy then fished hooked his mouth to try to escape.. the ref then stoped it.. stood them up and took a point away from the guy who fished hooked him.. my coaches were calling the ref an idiot it should of being a DQ so after all this arguing the ref starts them back in the same position.. how do you start some one back in a triangle choke?

man i really hope you actually become a ref so we can get a better ref in AZ.

good luck.. keep me posted

and by the way where are you going to start training?

Ugh, that blows balls. This is the very reason I want to be a ref.

I'm going to start going to Attitude First MMA Gym in the west valley. It's right up the road and the price is right. If I start getting serious about it, I'll join AZ Combat Sports, but that won't be for at least 2 years of solid training.

NHB7 · 08-01-2008, 04:57 PM

I looked into it once and when I did I was surprised at how much previous experience was needed just to do refereeing for amateur events. Good luck though, it does sound like it would be fun. Although be prepared for entire crowds to boo and act like you are an idiot. If you are mentally and emotionally tough though it should be no problem.

GracieMMABarra · 08-01-2008, 04:58 PM

You need years of experience in reffing combat sports like boxing or kickboxing events before reffing MMA events. So I think your screwed for now

Priceinator · 08-01-2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHB7

I looked into it once and when I did I was surprised at how much previous experience was needed just to do refereeing for amateur events. Good luck though, it does sound like it would be fun. Although be prepared for entire crowds to boo and act like you are an idiot. If you are mentally and emotionally tough though it should be no problem.

Hah, that won't be a problem. I'm more of a fan than anything, so I'll bring that element of understanding to the matches. It seems like most refs are just there because they can be and not because they want to be (Japanese refs are pretty damn good though)

Priceinator · 08-01-2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GracieMMABarra

You need years of experience in reffing combat sports like boxing or kickboxing events before reffing MMA events. So I think your screwed for now

I never thought it was going to be a quick thing, I'm in it for the long run. It may take 5+ years, but why not right?

A-Lexasoarus · 08-01-2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Priceinator

Ugh, that blows balls. This is the very reason I want to be a ref.

I'm going to start going to Attitude First MMA Gym in the west valley. It's right up the road and the price is right. If I start getting serious about it, I'll join AZ Combat Sports, but that won't be for at least 2 years of solid training.

well i will see you there.. thats were i have been training for the past 2 years. its a good gym and a great group of guys. so if you come in with the right attitude you should fit right in.