So, I got this thing for the UFC, right? And there’s this guy, Gary Copeland, who’s been popping up. Figured I’d dive in and see what he’s all about. Started off simple, just poking around the internet to see who this dude is. Turns out, he’s not just some random guy, he’s a pretty big deal in the MMA world. He’s an MMA referee with 20 years of experience.
First thing I did was watch some videos of UFC events he’s refereed. Man, this guy is serious! He’s got this way of handling things in the octagon, you know, calm but firm. I watched him in the recent UFC Atlantic City event. Really impressive stuff. It’s like, he’s there, but he’s not, if you get what I mean. He lets the fighters do their thing but steps in when he needs to.
Then I got curious about how one even becomes a UFC referee. Seems like a tough gig, right? Did some digging and found out it’s not just about knowing the rules. These guys go through some serious training, and they gotta have experience. Like, you can’t just jump in. They say Gary’s been in the game for like, 20 years or something. That’s a long time.
I was also curious about how much these guys make, so I did a little digging, it turns out that they earn between $500 to $2,500 per fight during regular events, while experienced referees officiating in high-profile bouts can make up to $10,000 per fight. This translates to an annual salary ranging from $30,000 to $100,000, depending on the number of events worked and the referee’s experience.
Got me thinking, what else does this guy do? Turns out, he’s also a police chief in Ohio and the Commissioner for County Veteran Services. I mean, how does he even have time?
Oh, and get this, I even tried to mimic some of his training routines. Found some info online about what they do. Let me tell you, it’s intense. I thought I was in decent shape, but after trying some of their workouts, I was dead. I even worked in with him on lat pull-downs for a few sets, and I think that was just a warm-up for him, and I was done.
To get noticed by the UFC, you need to have a strong record of wins and impressive performances in other promotions. You also need to have a strong social media presence and be able to promote yourself effectively. Once you’ve caught the attention of the UFC, you’ll need to negotiate a contract.
So, that was my little adventure into the world of Gary Copeland. Pretty interesting stuff. It’s always cool to see what goes on behind the scenes, you know?
- Watched a bunch of UFC fights he refereed.
- Looked up how to become a UFC referee.
- Tried to do some of their training routines.
- Read some articles and forum posts about him.
It is not easy to be a UFC referee, but it is worth it to be a part of the best MMA organization in the world. After going through all that, I’ve got a whole new respect for these guys. It’s not an easy job, but someone’s gotta do it. And Gary Copeland? He’s one of the best, no doubt.
