Qualifications Needed to be a Judge in the UFC
MMA Judge Training Outline
Qualifications for judge must include as a minimum:
5 years professional MMA judging experience
Must possess adequate knowledge to recognize and describe various holds, throws, takedowns, and submission techniques
Must be able to present instructional material to a wide range of individuals with varying educational backgrounds
Provide full resume
Provide any prior teaching experience
The material in the course must include but not be limited to:
Ethics:
Code of conduct
Conflicts of interest
Dealing with the media
Socializing with others at the venue
Discussing the scoring of fights with others.
Proper Appearance
Review of the Unified Rules Judging Criteria
Review of Boxing, May Thai, Wrestling, Judo, and Jiu Jitsu: Emphasis on submission attempts and how to advance to a position to finish the fight.
Scoring issues:
The 10-10 Round
What is a 10-8 Round
How to account for a point deduction
What to do with an incomplete round
Identifying each contestant on the scorecard by corner, name, and trunks or appearance
Accounting for the impact of heavy strikes
Does defence score points?
What is an active, threatening guard?
Scoring points while on your back
What is effective aggressiveness?
What is fighting area control?
Which fighter is imposing their will? i.e. striker vs grappler, dictating pace and position
Discuss rear mount
Discuss side mount
Passing the guard
What is the impact of a submission attempt that does not finish the fight
Does it matter which fighter looks fresher and isn’t cut or swollen at the end of the fight?
Concentration: Handling a loud crowd, Dealing with a hometown favourite, How to break down a five minute round
The Referee:
What if I see a foul that the referee did not call?
What if I don’t think it was a foul, but the referee called it?
What if I thought the slip that the referee called was a knockdown?
These qualifications are stated by the Association of Boxing Commissions.
