Veteran referee Marc Goddard reacts to ‘shameful’ 529-pound man vs. 139-pound woman fight

Veteran referee Marc Goddard blasted those responsible for a recent fight in Russia featuring a 529-pound man fighting a 139-pound woman.

Goddard, a respected official who’s overseen dozens of high-profile fights in MMA promotions around the world, said the bout damaged the sport’s image and gave ammunition to its critics.

The bout took place at an event titled “Our Business” that was promoted by Nashe Delo Fights in Moscow. It was released online on Thanksgiving. According to online database Tapology, Nashe Delo has held three events in 2020.

The female fighter, Darina Madzyuk, won the bout via TKO when she survived an early onslaught from Grigory Chistyakov and stopped him with a flurry of punches.

Goddard didn’t immediately respond to a request for additional comment. The official regularly offers his opinion on the sport via his Twitter account and was at the center of controversy this past year after former UFC interim welterweight champ Colby Covington accused him of botching a title fight with current champ Kamaru Usman at UFC 245.

Goddard wasn’t the only one to have a visceral reaction to the video. Former ONE Championship welterweight titleholder and UFC star Ben Askren did the written equivalent of a forehead slap.