When it comes to mixed martial arts, who really has the best seat in the house? Is it the high roller with a front row seat? Maybe the play by play and color commentary team? Perhaps the three judges whose job it is to score the match?

None of those perspectives even begin to compare to the view from inside the cage. The third man in the cage, he who has the often thankless job of combat sports referee, certainly has the privilege of best seat in the house. For better or worse. As the person in charge of keeping fighters safe, maintaining adherence to the Unified Rules of mixed martial arts, and pulling a couple sweaty, bloody and adrenaline jacked dudes off each other when the bell rings, you’re probably going to end up with some pretty wild and crazy stories.

As lifelong martial artists and mixed martial arts referees Big John McCarthy, Herb The Predator Dean, and Steve Mazzagatti will tell you, the more time you spend inside the cage and immersed in the intense world of MMA officiating, the more wild and crazy stories you will collect.

From Big John’s memories of Bas Rutten constantly talking to everyone in the cage including himself to Herb Dean’s tale of Chael Sonnen taking on Jason Lambert in regional promotion Gladiator Challenge and hilariously selling his opponent’s choke to sap his energy, it is easy to see that the life of a professional MMA referee is an interesting one.

Jeff Warsaw is the former executive editor of Long Island MMA Magazine, professional combat sports public address announcer for several NY/NJ MMA and kickboxing promotions, and a proud one-stripe white belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under the famed Joe D’Arce. He is currently a musician, coffee enthusiast and host of the Stranger In A Strange Land podcast on YouTube.