The worst UFC referee performances in recent memory

During UFC 307 prelims, referee Dave Seljestad’s inconsistent officiating caught widespread attention. Missed eye pokes, quick stoppages, and unnecessary breaks during grappling exchanges contributed to one of the most frustrating nights in UFC reffing history between Cesar Almeida and Ihor Photiera.

In light of this, I’ve compiled five of the worst referee performances in recent UFC memory, based on personal opinion and recent observations.

Vyacheslav Kiselev – UFC 267 (2021)

During the Elizeu Zaleski vs. Benoit Saint-Denis fight, referee Vyacheslav Kiselev allowed a one-sided beating to continue far too long. Benoit Saint-Denis, now one of the most feared strikers in the lightweight division, was pummeled for the better half of 15 minutes.

Kiselev failed to step in, despite the fact that Saint-Denis was taking unnecessary damage and had even suffered an eye poke that was blatantly ignored. This fight could have easily been stopped in the second round, making Kiselev’s performance one of the worst in recent history.

Dan Miragliotta – UFC on ESPN 62 (2024)

This recent fight between Ciao Borralho and Jared Cannonier could have been much shorter, but instead, it became a glaring example of a late stoppage. Cannonier, having come off a controversial loss earlier in the year, looked to be completely out in the fifth round. For two minutes, Borralho pounded Cannonier, who seemed on the verge of tapping out or going to sleep multiple times.

Dan Miragliotta, however, allowed the punishment to continue, showing questionable judgment that left many fans and commentators uncomfortable.

Gary Copeland – UFC on ESPN 54 (2024)

Chris Weidman’s bout against Bruno Silva featured not one but two egregious no-call eye pokes. Weidman, the former middleweight champ, poked Silva twice in quick succession, but referee Gary Copeland refused to take action. Both pokes were obvious and could have significantly influenced the fight's outcome.

Despite the fouls, Weidman won on points, and Copeland failed to deduct any penalties, leading to widespread criticism of his performance.

Kerry Hatley – UFC on ESPN 52 (2023)

The King Green vs. Jalin Turner fight became an unnecessary showcase of late stoppage issues. Jalin Turner knocked Green down with a clean strike to the chin early in the first round. Yet, despite Green being clearly finished, Kerry Hatley hesitated, allowing Turner to land several more blows before finally stepping in.

Though Green bounced back with a win later in the year, this fight remains a glaring example of poor officiating and fighter safety concerns.

Dan Miragliotta – UFC 277 (2022)

MIragliotta makes this list twice. Heavyweight fights are often a bit chaotic, and balance can be tricky, but Dan Miragliotta’s early stoppage during Sergei Pavlovich vs. Derrick Lewis was premature by any measure.

After Lewis stumbled, Miragliotta rushed in to stop the fight, despite Lewis quickly regaining his footing.

Heavyweights are notorious for such moments, but Miragliotta didn’t allow Lewis enough time to recover. Fans were disappointed, as this fight between two of the hardest-hitting heavyweights could have been much more competitive.

While these referees are responsible for some of the most frustrating moments in recent UFC history, it’s important to recognize the difficulty of the job. Split-second decisions are incredibly hard to make, and while the above performances were flawed, officiating mixed martial arts remains one of the toughest tasks in sports.

Alec Brown is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism, to contact him please email aeb6680@psu.edu.