Kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are growing in popularity in Ghana, gaining traction among the youth and attracting international attention.
Referee Derrick Maccaire has shed light on what it truly means to officiate in the world of kickboxing and MMA.
According to him, refereeing in these sports goes far beyond what happens inside the ring.
In an interview with Benjamin Sackey on GhanaWeb’s Sports Check, Maccaire provided a vivid and detailed analysis of the behind-the-scenes responsibilities of a kickboxing and MMA referee.
“People think officiating is just about being a judge or a referee, no, a whole lot more goes into it. From the fighters coming out of the dressing room, are they well-equipped? Are they ready to fight? All these things matter. We have people trained to do all these checks before the fighters enter the ring. So the fight doesn’t begin in the ring; it starts in the dressing room,” he explained.
According to him, the primary responsibility of a referee in both sports is to protect the fighters.
He emphasised that fairness is a crucial value for all referees, along with ensuring that fighters adhere strictly to the rules and regulations of the sport.
He also explained how the speed of decision-making can significantly impact the outcome of matches.
“Most of the time, when there’s a fight ongoing and there’s a knockout, you have to move in very fast, especially in MMA. But in kickboxing, when there’s a knockdown, there’s no follow-up because you’re not allowed to hit a grounded opponent. So, it’s a little easier to make a call in kickboxing than in MMA,” Maccaire noted.
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