Grant Waterman is without doubt the best known, most respected and most active MMA referee on the UK circuit. An absolute pillar of the UK MMA community, it seems that his smiling face can be seen at the vast majority of events in the UK and he is widely recognized as one of the most active contributors to the scene. Catching up with Grant, he was kind enough to answer a few questions for the readers of IronLife.com magazine.


(Grant finds himself in the right place at the right time)

- Jimmy Boogaloo/IronLife.com: When did you first get involved in MMA?

Grant Waterman: That depends on what you mean by MMA. I fought Andy Foreman at York Halls back in 1997 in a professional rules Shootfighting style bout, on a Kickboxing show, we wore boxing gloves but the rules were just about the same as modern MMA. I started refereeing about that time as well. I’ve cross trained in various styles of Martial Arts for around 22 years, I became hooked on the UFC the first time I saw it on video about 10 years ago. There were a few shows using boxing rings in the late 90’s over here in the UK, but the first show with a Cage / Octagon I was involved with was Cage Wars 1 in February of 2002, at Portsmouth Guildhall. That was the first show in the UK to use a proper Octagon.

- Why did you decide to become a referee?

I didn’t decide to become a ref’, it happened by accident really. I was at a Kickboxing and Shootfighting show and the referee didn’t turn up so the promoter who knew my background asked me to do it. That was in 1997 and MMA has become more and more popular since then and I’ve just been asked to referee more and more. I’ve reff’d quite a few fights now, over 500 anyway, and I’m still learning.

- What's the hardest thing about being a ref'?

I don’t find it a problem, but probably the hardest part is remaining totally impartial. If you’re involved in the sport as much as I am, you’re bound to get to know some of the fighters quite well and I’ve trained with a few of them, and also there’s going to be guys you don’t get on so well with, but I can honestly say that when a fight starts I treat everyone the same no matter who they are. Some fighters and trainers might expect the odd favor in there but that wouldn’t be doing them, the sport, or myself any justice, I’m here for the long term benefit of MMA.


(Keeping a close eye on the action, Grant is ready to save fighters from their own bravery)

- What is your favourite venue to work at, and why?

My favourite event to work on has to be Cage Rage, their fight card is total quality nowadays, real world class without a doubt. As for venues, I like working anywhere there is a great atmosphere, and that is more often than not at a smaller ‘grass roots’ event with local support for local fighters. It’s amazing how loud UK audiences can get.

- Full Contact Fight Night - What got you started as a promoter?

Simple really, I just love the sport and I approached Darrin Richardson, my Sambo and Ju Jitsu coach and asked him if he’d like to promote an event. We decided to create a show that encourages new talent with real solid match ups and low ticket prices to fill the place up and spread the MMA gospel. It all works very well.


(From left to right, Andy Geer, Vanderlai and Grant at Cage Rage 10)

- I hear that the events you put on have unbelievable atmosphere to them... what's the secret behind that?

It’s not rocket science, but when you’ve worked on as many shows as Darrin and me you pick up quite of a bit of feedback from the fans and learn from other promoters’ mistakes. We keep our ticket prices as low as we can to get the venue full up and match the fighters up as well as we can to ensure some real tear ups. After the first show, the word spread and we hardly have to do any advertising now to sell out.

- What are your plans for the future of FCFN?

Working on Full Contact Fight Night as well as reffing and helping out on so many other shows is pretty time consuming. We’ve had some corporate and media interest in the show and we’d love it to get bigger and better. If we had the backing to put more time into it and get some top names on our fight cards we could put on a really special event. For the time being we’ll carry on as we are and try and recruit as many new MMA fans as we can.

- Do you watch a lot of MMA on tape?

I used to watch loads of MMA and other combat sports on video, but I just haven’t got the time nowadays. When I started refereeing regularly, I dug out all my UFC tapes and analyzed the way John McCarthy was doing things, I’ve probably used tapes more as a learning tool than anything else. I always try and watch the UK shows that are shown on TV.


(Grant has refereed the biggest match-ups put on by UK based shows)

- What can an MMA fan going to a live event for the first time expect?

That would depend on which event people choose to attend. Some are held in leisure centres, others in nightclubs etc.. I reckon people new to the sport are surprised at the atmosphere at most live shows and probably amazed at just how skilled and athletic the modern MMA fighter actually is, and how professionally shows are run over here now. MMA is very addictive, so once someone has been to a live show they’ll want to go back for sure. The thing with MMA is that you really do need to go to a live event to appreciate the excitement and adrenalin that’s generated.

- Who, in your opinion, is the biggest character on the UK MMA scene?

You know, we lack characters in all sports over here, especially compared to the Americans. British people are naturally quite reserved. Paul Jenkins is one of our biggest characters, he entered the Octagon at the last Cage Rage wearing a Chicken outfit, it was hilarious. There are a few others like Ian Freeman who just have a menacing aura about them, which makes them characters too. Because MMA is about ‘real’ fighting people have steered away from all the flamboyance of the wrestling type shows but we do need some showmanship brought into it to generate more interest.


(Grant flies in to protect the downed Matt Ewin from Damien Riccio)

- If you got the chance to referee an event in the states, would you be up for that?

I’d jump at the chance to referee at a UFC, and there are a lot of other great shows over there now. They’ve only got to ask. I’ve always concentrated on the NSAC rules so it’d have to be a show that used them. Herb Dean is fighting over here this year so perhaps the UFC will return the gesture and have me fight over there.

- Would it be all right to tell us a bit about the best fights that you have refereed?

I’ve officiated over so many fights now that it’s difficult to remember many of them. A few that do stand out though are, Alex Reid v Mark Weir, an absolute stand up war, I’ve never seen anything like it, both fighters gave it 110% until I had to stop the fight because of a cut to Alex. Alex DeSouza v Roberto Atalla, a 30 minute battle of attrition, blood everywhere, both fighters hated each other because of some personal stuff that went on before the show and it ended in a draw which didn’t help matters. Then there was the Jean DeSilva v Leigh Remedios fights, both very aggressive but extremely technical. I could go on all day.

- Who do you think is the best fighter you have refereed?

Without a doubt, Anderson Silva. This guy is in a class of his own. His strength and striking ability are at a freakish level.


(Anderson after his impressive display against Lee Murray)

- I don't want to put you on the spot too badly, but I have to ask... what are your thoughts on the Attila Kubilay situation?

I have met Atilla away from the fight game and he is a gentleman, it was just unfortunate that he lost his composure in the Octagon that day and I had to subdue him with a RNC to protect his opponent. He broke the rules, got disqualified, end of story, it was no big deal.

- Is there anything you'd like to change about the Nevada State Athletic Commission's MMA rules?

A purist might argue that MMA has already been diluted too much by the rules, but I think the way they are now is just about the right balance for spectator entertainment and fighter safety. The elbow issue is a bone of contention and I think it might be worth taking them out to help the sport gain wider acceptance and maybe let knees to the head of downed opponent come back but there’s nothing that stands out really.

- Sorry to be a geek, but I'm interested in the much-discussed elbow rule.... In side mount and using a sideways motion, is it possible to legally strike an opponent to the head with the point of your elbow?

Yes that is legal, as long as it’s a legal area of the head and your hand hasn’t gone skyward to deliver the elbow. There’s a great picture on the UFC web site of Matt Linland doing the technique you’ve described to Phil Baroni.


(Grant raises the arm of genuine superstar, Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral)

- It seems the sport is gaining far more coverage these days, do you think that it will ever gain general public acceptance?

This sport will never be ‘mainstream’, you just can’t expect every single person to like it. There will always be the haters as with boxing, but as more and more people understand the rules and techniques involved and get an appreciation of just how much more exciting MMA is compared to Boxing or traditional Martial Arts, we’ll definitely capture an ever increasing fan base. When people realize it’s practiced in a safe and controlled environment by highly conditioned and trained athletes I think it will gain a very broad audience for sure. I hope so anyway.

- Grant, thank you very much for your time!