The UFC’s 2023 schedule is within the bag.
This previous yr was busy and booming not just for fighters, promoters, and coaches, however referees, as properly. The UFC held occasions in 10 U.S. jurisdictions (Florida, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah) and 7 worldwide nations (Abu Dhabi, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Singapore and the UK.
Over the span of 12 months, the UFC promoted 43 occasions. Throughout these exhibits, 46 referees have been used – a 70 p.c improve within the variety of referees (27) used throughout 43 occasions in 2022.
With the elevated diversification of officers and places, the variety of fights refereed by final yr’s leaders largely bumped down on a person foundation – and a brand new chief was topped.
Beneath is a full record of each referee that officiated not less than one UFC struggle in 2023 (in alphabetical order by final title). The record doesn’t embrace Dana White’s Contender Collection or “The Final Fighter” fights. The info was calculated utilizing complete MMA database Tapology:
Mike Beltran, Nick Berens, Dwayne Bess, Lukasz Bosacki, Justin Brown, Mitch Cadlick, Larry Carter, Gary Copeland, Mark Craig, Herb Dean, John English, Thomas Fann, Larry Folsom, Andrew Glenn, Marc Goddard, Kerry Hatley, Jason Herzog, Peter Hickmott, Greg Kleynjans, Phil Koldyk, Kevin MacDonald, Osiris Maia, Bryan Miner, Dan Miragliotta, Wealthy Mitchell, Jacob Montalvo, Dan Movahedi, Jimmy Neely, Gasper Oliver, Steve Percival, Jim Perdios, Keith Peterson, Loic Pora, Fernando Portella, Sal Ram, Jeff Rexroad, Vitor Ribeiro, Kevin Sataki, Dave Seljestd, Joao Claudio Soares, Wayne Spinola, Mark Smith, Chris Tognoni, Tyler Tomlinson, Jerin Valel, Matt Wynne
9 officers listed above refereed a double-digit variety of fights for the promotion. Which of these referees did the UFC use essentially the most in 2023? Scroll via the record beneath to seek out out.
9
Jacob Montalvo – 13 UFC fights officiated
Jacob Montalvo locations on the “main third males” record for the second straight yr. In 2023, he was licensed as a referee in Nevada, so count on a possible uptick in his reps throughout 2024.
8
Dan Miragliotta – 22 UFC fights officiated
Jun 10, 2023; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Irene Aldana defends towards Amanda Nunes throughout UFC 289 at Rogers Area. Obligatory Credit score: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports activities
A well-recognized face to followers throughout the globe for over a decade, Dan Miragliotta is among the few referees who noticed an uptick in UFC assignments year-over-year from 2022.
7
Kerry Hatley – 26 UFC fights officiated
Dec 2, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Jalin Turner (pink gloves) fights Bobby Inexperienced (blue gloves) throughout UFC Struggle Evening at Moody Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports activities
A longtime official of the Texas scene and past, Kerry Hatley was one among a handful of referees to obtain a first-time license from Nevada in 2022. He greater than doubled his UFC assignments from 2022, going from 12 to 26.
6
Keith Peterson – 46 UFC fights officiated
Nov 11, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Diego Lopes (pink gloves) fights Pat Sabatini (blue gloves) throughout UFC 295 at Madison Sq. Backyard. Obligatory Credit score: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports activities
Keith Peterson noticed a slight lower in UFC assignments in 2023, although he maintained seemingly essentially the most energetic schedule of any high-level referee. From Bellator to PFL to regional exhibits, Peterson was busy getting repetitions in throughout practically each weekend of the yr.
5
Chris Tognoni – 53 UFC fights officiated
Jul 8, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Bo Nickal (pink gloves) fights Val Woodburn (blue gloves) throughout UFC 290 at T-Cellular Area. Obligatory Credit score: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports activities
Chris Tognoni noticed a slight lower in fights in 2022, although the aforementioned diversification of location and officers are seemingly the explanation. Tognoni is basically based mostly in Nevada and his focus is usually UFC occasions.
4
Jason Herzog – 54 UFC fights officiated
Jason Herzog bumps up one spot regardless of 10 extra UFC assignments in 2022, in comparison with 2023. Herzog officiated the world over for fights that included a number of title and non-title primary occasions.
3
Marc Goddard – 56 UFC fights officiated
An official checks on Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski as he lies on the ground throughout his Light-weight bout towards Russia’s Islam Makhachev within the Final Combating Championship 294 (UFC) occasion on the Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi on October 22, 2023. (Picture by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Picture by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP through Getty Photographs)
Marc Goddard’s workload elevated by 19 fights in comparison with 2022. He’s established himself as one of many go-to officers for title fights and enters 2023 having officiated UFC title fights on five-straight pay-per-views together with 4 primary occasions.
2
Herb Dean – 57 UFC fights officiated
Sep 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Referee Herb Dean factors Charles Radtke (blue gloves) again to his nook throughout UFC 293 at Qudos Financial institution Area. Obligatory Credit score: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports activities
For the primary time since MMA Junkie started monitoring the “main third males” in 2020 (and maybe since even earlier than then), Herb Dean slips out of the No. 1 slot on the leaderboard. Arguably essentially the most well-recognizable MMA referee ever, Dean got here eight wanting this yr’s chief.
1
Mark Smith – 65 UFC fights officiated
Dec 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Paddy Pimblett (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Tony Ferguson (not pictured) throughout UFC 296 at T-Cellular Area. Obligatory Credit score: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports activities
There’s a brand new main third man. Mark Smith has risen via the ranks over the previous three years to actually solidify himself as one of the vital recognizable blended martial arts referees. In 2022, he got here in second to Herb Dean. In 2023, he pulled away, officiating extra UFC fights than anybody else.
Take a look at the rankings from yr’s previous:
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