Marc Goddard won’t be the third man in UFC 304’s main event this month (Sat., July 27, 2024).
Refereeing requires collaboration, with an additional facilitator. The most skilled individuals should be involved in influential positions across all professions. England’s Goddard has consistently been a prominent figure in the referee discourse for over a decade and a half.
The next big mixed martial arts (MMA) event, UFC 304, will see the promotion return to Goddard’s home country where two native champions take center stage. In the main event, Welterweight champion, Leon Edwards, will rematch the top contender, Belal Muhammad. However, Goddard has made it a point to go out of his way to not officiate “Rocky” bouts.
“Leon Edwards,” Goddard told Overdogs Podcast (h/t MMA Fighting) when asked if there are any fighters’ fights he’d never referee in. “You’ve never saw me referee Leon Edwards in the UFC and you never will. Why? Because I was Leon Edwards’ first coach in MMA. Way, way, way back when, when he was just an amateur. But again, the common sense element for me, like I said, even though the link is so — who knew then when Leon first walked into that gym as a raw amateur, a raw novice, with no experience. Now look at him. UFC Welterweight champion of the world.
“But you’ve never seen me referee him, and you never will because we’ll ensure it remains separate,” he concluded. “I simply want to avoid any trouble and prevent finding myself in a situation where I have to make a decision that could potentially work against him. So, it’s better to keep it that way for both of us.”
Officials have yet to be assigned to UFC 304. Although he may not be handling Edwards’ third title defense, Goddard would be a no-brainer for the interim UFC Heavyweight title co-main event between the champion, Tom Aspinall, and Curtis Blaydes.
