Tag: Marc Goddard

Marc Goddard Addresses Claims Jiri Prochazka Tapped During UFC 275 Main Event With Glover Teixeira

JIri ProchazkaReferee, Marc Goddard has addressed multiple claims that newly-minted undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka, actually submitted on multiple occasions during his UFC 275 main event bout with former champion, Glover Teixeira in Singapore. Jiri Prochazka found himself down on scorecards ahead of the fifth and final round Clinching the undisputed light heavyweight crown […]

JIri Prochazka

Referee, Marc Goddard has addressed multiple claims that newly-minted undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka, actually submitted on multiple occasions during his UFC 275 main event bout with former champion, Glover Teixeira in Singapore.

Jiri Prochazka found himself down on scorecards ahead of the fifth and final round

Clinching the undisputed light heavyweight crown in a blood-and-guts performance against Brazilian veteran, Teixeira over the course of five gruelling rounds, Jiri Prochazka became the first UFC champion hailing from Czech Republic – stopping Teixeira with a fifth round rear-naked choke – without hooks, no less. 

However, in some notable grappling scrambles earlier in the bout, Teixeira appeared to force several light taps from Jiri Prochazka during a period in top control, as well as when he attempted to set up an arm-triangle.

Goddard, who officiated the headliner in the Singapore Indoor Arena denied that Prochazka had actually tapped in submission to Teixeira, however, insisting that he had warned the Czech striker for playing a risky game, maintained that he was actually congratulating Teixeira for advancing position and controlling him from the top.

“Lol,” Marc Goddard tweeted in response to a user who questioned his view on Prochazka’s perceived submissions. “Jiri (Prochazka) was actually congratulating & encouraging his opponent (Glover Teixeira)! He done it a couple of times and I told him it’s a risky game lol! But it’s very clear what he was doing and intending. Lets celebrate the incredible feat from both gentlemen.” 

Improving to 3-0 in the UFC with his title-winning performance over Teixeira, Prochazka also maintains his 100 per cent finish rate in the organization since his move from Rizin FF – adding to prior knockout successes against both Volkan Oezdemir, and Dominick Reyes.

Linked with several title defenses for his first outing as champion, Prochazka has been discussed alongside the prospect of an immediate title re-run with Teixeira, as well as a mouth-watering all-European title outing against Polish contender and former titleholder, Jan Blachowicz next.

Michael Bisping, Darren Till Condemn ‘Coward’ Bullies In Sickening Video, Offer Support To Victim

Michael BispingA slew of professional mixed martial artists, including former UFC middleweight champion, Michael Bisping, and middleweight contender, Darren Till have condemned footage of a group of teenagers bullying a young boy in England, striking him in the face, instructing him to strip naked, before allegedly robbing his belongings. On Tuesday afternoon, sickening footage of a […]

Michael Bisping

A slew of professional mixed martial artists, including former UFC middleweight champion, Michael Bisping, and middleweight contender, Darren Till have condemned footage of a group of teenagers bullying a young boy in England, striking him in the face, instructing him to strip naked, before allegedly robbing his belongings.

On Tuesday afternoon, sickening footage of a group of male teenagers bullying a small boy surfaced, where the boy is instructed to stand still with his head raised, so he can be repeatedly punched in the face, and then kicked. The boy, who is left with a bloodied nose, is then instructed by one of the group, who is sporting a snood, to strip naked, before the same teenager asks for the footage to stop being recorded.

Reacting to the difficult to watch footage, former UFC middleweight champion, color-commentator, and Hall of Fame inductee, Michael Bisping, labelled the youths “cowards” as well as encouraged his followers to help secure martial arts training for the victim.

“We need to name and shame these absolute cowards,” Michael Bisping tweeted. “You should be appalled at yourselves. Also, let’s get this brave young man some martial arts training.”

Till, a native of Liverpool and compatriot of Michael Bisping, also voiced his disgust at the video footage, labelling the group of perpetrators as “horrible pieces of sh*t”.

“Can not believe what I have just watched… speechless… completely and utterly speechless… F*cking dirty horrible pieces of sh*t,” Darren Till tweeted.

Till’s fellow Liverpudlian, UFC lightweight contender, Paddy Pimblett also shared his thoughts on the upsetting footage, labelling them as “dirty bullying bastards”.

“There dirty bullying bastards need-finding imagine being that much of a piece of sh*t u have to hit a kid half ur size!” Paddy Pimblett tweeted. “F*kin’ disgusting.” 

Prominent mixed martial arts referee, Marc Goddard also reacted to the footage, offering the victim mixed martial arts training free of charge, and urging his followers to attempt to put him in touch with the boy’s parents.

“Can any body put me in touch with this kids parents,” Marc Goddard tweeted. “I’ll get his training sorted FOC (free of charge). His confidence & character will need rebuilding.” 

Goddard then revealed in a later tweet that he had identified the boy’s mother, and had attempted to reach out to her to offer the child support.

“Update on my previous post,” Marc Goddard tweeted. “I believe I have found the little lads mother via IG (Instagram) but can’t communicate via DM (direct message). I’ve sent a message via FB (Facebook), hopefully they get. They’ve probably (hopefully( been inundated with help (rightly so) but any direct contact would be appreciated. Thanks.” 

Former Cage Warriors champion, James Webb, a trainee at Team KF Martial Arts also voiced his support for the boy, urging police to investigate the incident.

“I hope the little fella is ok, are the police on this? James Webb tweeted. “Hopefully they find & charge them all, even the fool recording.”

Unconfirmed reports have claimed the perpetrators have been arrested by police

Whilst not confirmed at the time of publication, a Twitter user replied to Webb’s tweeted, claiming that the incident had occurred near her place of residence, claiming that the perpetrators had been arrested by police.

Michael Bisping further tweeted regarding the incident, appearing to identity one of the perpetrators.

“Here’s one of them,” Michael Bisping tweeted. “Real tough guy aren’t you Clemmy. Timothy Clemmy from Battersea.”

Referee Marc Goddard Launches Online Officiating Training Program

One of the most prominent referees in the sport of MMA has launched a program to teach people how to judge and officiate fights.

Marc Goddard recently launched his online training series, which aims to offer a “line by line” breakdown of the Unifie…

Dominick Cruz, Marc Goddard

One of the most prominent referees in the sport of MMA has launched a program to teach people how to judge and officiate fights.

Marc Goddard recently launched his online training series, which aims to offer a “line by line” breakdown of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. The videos look at the rules through the lens of officiating a fight or being a judge for a fight.

Goddard hopes that the series can help people understand the rules that MMA utilizes. The unified rules are free online and accessible to anyone. However, Goddard thinks his series can further people’s understanding of the information.

“There is a huge difference between reading something and actually understanding something,” Goddard said on The MMA Hour. “Having the sit-down, the classroom environment, getting that theoretical knowledge explained to you and broken down in great detail. That’s essentially what the training is.”

“Refereeing and judging, it’s something people think you can just have a go at, and it’s not. It’s the same as any other profession”

Goddard: Program Can Help Anyone Involved With MMA

Marc Goddard
Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Goddard’s program does not make fighters qualified to officiate or judge upon completion. However, that’s not the point of the program. As Goddard explained in a video posted on his website, the series can help enlighten people on the systems that MMA operates under no matter what angle they are coming from.

“The content is available for just about everybody and anybody. Of course, would be officials, but [also] coaches and fighters in the sport, promoters, commentators, and media members,” said Goddard in a Q&A video. “The unified rules for mixed martial arts should be more accessible, and that is exactly what this program offers and does.”

Goddard is one of the bigger names in the MMA refereeing community. He frequently appears at UFC events and oversees some of the bigger fights in the sport. Last month, he officiated the upset win for Julianna Peña over Amanda Nunes.

Do you think the MMA community needs to know more about the unified rules?

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Dominick Cruz Denies Jabbing Keith Peterson In Praise Of Marc Goddard

Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz cleared the air on his UFC 269 post-fight remarks that he was happy with referee Marc Goddard.

Cruz’s praise of Goddard was particularly notable after he blasted Keith Peterson following his loss to He…

Dominick Cruz, Marc Goddard

Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz cleared the air on his UFC 269 post-fight remarks that he was happy with referee Marc Goddard.

Cruz’s praise of Goddard was particularly notable after he blasted Keith Peterson following his loss to Henry Cejudo at UFC 249. He lost to Cejudo via TKO after Cruz suffered heavy blows on the ground and the feet, though he claimed he was still defending himself.

Cruz’s wishes for not having Peterson officiate his next fights were granted in recent wins over Casey Kenney and Pedro Munhoz. Following his win over Munhoz, Cruz praised Goddard for allowing him to continue fighting through an early barrage.

During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Cruz denied that praising Goddard was in some way an indirect slight at Peterson.

“I gave kudos to Marc Goddard and the Las Vegas commission for the great job they did with the show,” Cruz said. “And I heard it in that moment in the interview. He said, ‘Well, look, you took a stab at Keith Peterson, I noticed, and you gave kudos to Marc Goddard.’ And I said, ‘Hold on one second. That’s exactly what happened with me and Cormier right there,’ is whatever got said you can twist it and hear your interpretation and write a headline that everyone’s gonna click. 

“That’s the world we live in today,” Cruz continued. “But the truth is I never said (anything) about Keith Peterson. You did. And I gave kudos to Marc Goddard and that got turned into me talking bad about Keith Peterson? How does that happen?”

Dominick Cruz Has Never Been One To Hold Back His Opinions

Along with his successes in the Octagon, Cruz has turned into arguably one of the top UFC commentators in the promotion. He’s become a main fixture of many UFC Fight Night events, especially during the UFC’s time broadcasting events at the UFC Apex.

Cruz has also been in a bit of hot water with some fans and fellow athletes after he publically criticized Daniel Cormier’s commentary. He later went on to point out that he made the comments in the middle of weight cutting.

Cruz is now much closer to re-entering the bantamweight title picture after back-to-back wins in the Octagon, and he could earn more of a spotlight if he can keep up his recent winning ways.

What are your thoughts on Dominick Cruz’s latest comments?

Continue Reading Dominick Cruz Denies Jabbing Keith Peterson In Praise Of Marc Goddard at MMA News.

Marc Goddard Believes Oblique Kicks Aren’t A Problematic Tactic

Marc GoddardMarc Goddard is adamant that oblique kicks should continue to be a legal strike in MMA. The veteran MMA referee took to Twitter to give his stance on the oblique kicks future in the MMA. “I understand the aesthetic & why people have a hard time with it – but this is MMA & it’s […]

Marc Goddard

Marc Goddard is adamant that oblique kicks should continue to be a legal strike in MMA.

The veteran MMA referee took to Twitter to give his stance on the oblique kicks future in the MMA.

“I understand the aesthetic & why people have a hard time with it – but this is MMA & it’s all dangerous! Heel hooks, knee bars, reaping etc all directly attack the knee. It’s never nice to see a fight end with injury but we need to get over what we are doing here!”

“It absolutely is an aesthetic! Of course the injury result from it can be catastrophic – but so is brain health, eyesight etc and these are ALL at risk,” Goddard added. “The statistics in which we see this technique employed are very low, even lower when looking at which ones end fights!”

Goddard believes that it is only the look of oblique kicks that make them so bad. Goddard has a point and it is relevant to the 12-6 elbows as well. Those elbows are illegal mostly because of how devastating and barbaric they look. Goddard proclaims that, like any move inside the octagon there is a counter for the oblique kick. Will the oblique kicks be a banned strike now because of how bad they look when being used? The most notorious fighter known for using them oblique kicks being Jon ‘Bones’ Jones.

The oblique kick has come under scrutiny after Khalil Rountree Jr.’s use of it in his win over Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Fight Night this past Saturday.

While many MMA fans and even fighters like Kelvin Gastelum believe they should be an illegal strike and no longer be able to use inside the octagon. Brodeskas took to social media to congratulate Rountree on his win, even still people are complaining about the strike that beat him.

The oblique kick like any other move inside the MMA is intended to harm the opponent and take him out of the fight. If the UFC bans the oblique kick, where does it stop?

Do you agree with Marc Goddard? Should the oblique kick remain legal?

Referee Marc Goddard Explains No-Foul Call During Burns/Thompson Ending

Gilbert Burns took Stephen Thompson to task with a decision win at UFC 264, but after some questionable strikes to the back of the head, Marc Goddard has decided to chime in. The fight was truly a pressure cooker of an affair, as the stakes for both fi…

Gilbert Burns took Stephen Thompson to task with a decision win at UFC 264, but after some questionable strikes to the back of the head, Marc Goddard has decided to chime in. The fight was truly a pressure cooker of an affair, as the stakes for both fighters were so consequential. For Thompson, it would […]

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