Marc Goddard Names Top Officiated Fights of the Year
UFC referee Marc Goddard has officiated a number of fights this year, but when asked about his favorite fight, he had only one answer.
Veteran referee Marc Goddard gets an absolute front-row seat to some of the most thrilling and high-stakes encounters in combat sports. When a fan on social media asked him to name his favorite fight he has officiated this year, the official singled out a pair of phenomenal UFC battles that stood out above the rest.
Taking to X, Goddard revealed that his top pick right now belongs to the wild featherweight clash between Tommy McMillen and Marwan Rahiki at Noche UFC. Dubbing the contest "insane," Goddard offered fans a peek into his perspective on a bout that had everyone on the edge of their seats. McMillen and Rahiki traded heavy blows in a non-stop three-round firefight. Despite taking huge damage and surviving a scary second round, McMillen dug deep to earn a unanimous decision with scores of 29–28, 29–28, and 29–27. The heart and technical warfare made it an easy choice for Goddard's top reffed fight of the year.
Pure Octagon Firefights
While McMillen versus Rahiki earned his highest praise, Goddard warned fight fans not to sleep on another non-stop classic from earlier in the season. He highlighted the lightweight battle between Mason Jones and Axel Sola from UFC London. Describing that matchup as "incredible," Goddard refereed a blood-soaked thriller where Jones recovered from a vicious spinning elbow knockdown in the opening frame to outwork Sola across three fast-paced rounds, eventually taking the unanimous decision win.
In a sport where referees usually only make headlines for controversial stoppages, Goddard's commentary serves as a great reminder of why the third man in the ring loves MMA. When athletes like McMillen, Rahiki, Jones, and Sola lay it all on the line, even seasoned officials can't help but step back and appreciate the spectacle.
