2017 MMA Referee of the Year (Poll)

[Cammo101]

Previous winners:

2016 - Marc Goddard
2015 - John McCarthy
2014 - Jason Herzog
2013 - Herb Dean
2012 - Herb Dean/Josh Rosenthal/John McCarthy (tie)
2011 - Josh Rosenthal

Fun Fact: This is the first year that Herb Dean has not been nominated.

[REDDzone]

Mario Yamasaki for his performance in the Lee/Chiesa fight.

[AirCanadaMouse]

Yeah, Herb has had a really tough year. No need to see him on the list.

I'm not sure why so many disagree with me when I say it, but I will always vote for him and mention him in any best referee discussion. Marc Goddard is the best ref in MMA today, period.

Big John doesn't get on my nerves as much, he doesn't try to steal the spotlight and get in the way fights as much as he did a year or two ago. He doesn't force fighters to shake hands after a round, it always pissed me off that he did that during the Rory-Lawler fight. FFS talk about killing the mood, two guys in the middle of the greatest fight of all time, staring each other down and you force them to meet in the middle and awkwardly touch gloves. smh lol

[Nemesis21]

Herzog.


I want to punch a baby every time I hear one of you say Goddard is the best ref in MMA today.

[Cammo101]

Yeah, Herb has had a really tough year. No need to see him on the list.

I'm not sure why so many disagree with me when I say it, but I will always vote for him and mention him in any best referee discussion. Marc Goddard is the best ref in MMA today, period.

Big John doesn't get on my nerves as much, he doesn't try to steal the spotlight and get in the way fights as much as he did a year or two ago. He doesn't force fighters to shake hands after a round, it always pissed me off that he did that during the Rory-Lawler fight. FFS talk about killing the mood, two guys in the middle of the greatest fight of all time, staring each other down and you force them to meet in the middle and awkwardly touch gloves. smh lol

I think Big John has gotten a lot better lately. For a while there he really bothered me, but he has been on a good run and has done more big fights this year than anyone else.

[Cammo101]

Herzog.


I want to punch a baby every time I hear one of you say Goddard is the best ref in MMA today.

I think Goddard is great. I voted for him the last couple years and still think he's among the best. But, I went with Big John this year. I think he has become a much better ref lately and he did a ton of big fights this year.

[Nemesis21]

Herzog.


I want to punch a baby every time I hear one of you say Goddard is the best ref in MMA today.

I think Goddard is great. I voted for him the last couple years and still think he's among the best. But, I went with Big John this year. I think he has become a much better ref lately and he did a ton of big fights this year.

I just remember a few fights years ago in the UK where he was terrible. Since then I would say he is ok. Definitely not the best IMO.

[Duke4life831]

I think Goddard is the best ref by a pretty solid margin. Goddard just does the job he's supposed to do and rarely makes any big time mistakes. Big John makes a few more mistakes and like others have said, Big John seems to try and put himself into the spotlight more than a ref should, but he has gotten better the last year or so.

Herb Dean has had a pretty rough year this year. I'm almost at the point this year now when I see him as the ref, I'm almost on the edge of my seat expecting him to do something stupid. I never thought he was a great ref, just a good one. But man he's been really bad this year.

[REDDzone]

I don't see Mark Gonard on the list?

[Susan]

Frank Trigg

[Cammo101]

Frank Trigg

I hope we see more former fighters becoming refs. Would be good for the sport IMO.

[Cammo101]

Bumping this up to hopefully get a few more last minute votes before the glut of 2018 cards start.