Mixed martial arts (MMA) referees have one of the most unforgiving jobs in sports. They’re asked to make split-second decisions that can permanently alter a fighter’s health and career. When they get it right, they’re rarely praised. When they get it wrong, they’re crucified — and sometimes, fighters push back by asking not to be assigned to their bouts again.
That appears to be the case for top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight contender Maycee Barber, who has made it clear she no longer wants veteran referee Mark Smith officiating her fights.
“I was told several times this is a great ref, and from my perspective now, I’m like, I don’t want him reffing my fights at all,” Barber told MMA Fighting. “I don’t feel safe in there with him anymore. I don’t feel like he’s a very fair ref.”
While Barber acknowledged that officials are human and capable of mistakes, she emphasized the uneven consequences between referees and fighters.
“People have bad days, so I try not to be too harsh, but at the same time, that’s my job. My job is on the line,” Barber said. “He can have a bad day at work and still get paid regardless. We’re the ones risking our careers.”
Barber is far from the first to voice concerns about Smith’s officiating. Just last year, Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick criticized Smith after the referee stopped Chris Curtis’ fight with just one second remaining, saying it felt like competing against two opponents. Nicksick also noted that Smith had warned Curtis pre-fight about Roman Kopylov’s tendency to foul — something that still occurred during the bout.
Whether Smith will be assigned to officiate one of Barber’s fights again remains to be seen. For now, “The Future” has made her stance clear.