UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Smith took place in Stockholm on June 1 as the World’s leading professional MMA organisation returned to Sweden.
Once again overseeing the UFC’s regulatory processes was the Swedish MMA Federation (SMMAF), Sweden’s national affiliate to IMMAF – WMMAA and founding member of the International MMA Federation.
The UFC’s return to Stockholm highlighted the latest example of opportunity for experienced up and coming officials who are products of the effort to spread unified standards of education and accreditation for officials under IMMAF – WMMAA, worldwide.
Of the officials selected for the UFC by the SMMAF’s referee committee, those who regularly achieve experience at domestic and international IMMAF – WMMAA amateur championships included Kevin Sataki, Mattias Sjödén, Madelein Fagerlind and Rebin Kasper Saber, each having progressed to MMA’s upper tier as licensed officials at the national and international level, advancing via official progression pathways. The team was headed by lead referee and IMMAF – WMMAA Director of Regulatory Affairs, Marc Goddard.
Having previously judged the card of UFC Fight Night in London on March 16, licensed official Anders Ohlsson was also among the SMMAF’s selected judges, however forgoes officiating at the international amateur level due to commitments as a decorated coach of Sweden’s renowned national team. Meanwhile, after refereeing at the IMMAF – WMMAA Unified World Championships, Madelein Fagerlind (pictured below) was nominated as a UFC judge for the first time.
“I saw a lot of countries having many representatives (officials) at the IMMAF Worlds and Europeans, but I was the only one from Sweden,”referee Kevin Sataki stated, now a regular official of the UFC’s European cards. “I knew we had good officials in our domestic league and knew they could do good internationally to.”
For information on upcoming certification courses for officials, contact your national federation.
By IMMAF.org lead writer: Jorden Curran Photo by Stefan Romare
