The People Behind WFC: Grant Waterman

The People Behind WFC: Grant Waterman

 

Usually, it’s the fighters who get the entire spotlight and deservedly so – after all they are “the show”. In celebration of World Freefight Challenge’s tenth event, we will introduce you to the people behind the show. Usually you won’t notice them unless they make a crucial mistake, yet they are irredeemable and all help make a great event. In episode one of “The People Behind WFC”, let’s meet one of the hardest-working men during fight weekends: Referee Grant Waterman.

 

This hunky 42-year-old has been the head referee for World Freefight Challenge since WFC 6. Overall, he has refereed more than 3,000 professional and amateur fights in Mixed Martial Arts, Kickboxing, Boxing and Karate. Some of the biggest shows he has worked on besides WFC include Cage Rage and Cage Warriors in England and Sweden’s Superior Challenge. Legendary champions like Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Matt Lindland and Ken Shamrock have fought under his supervision.

 

Besides being one of the best and most experienced referees in the game, Grant is also running his own event, “Full Contact Fight Night” in his hometown of Portsmouth, England. In a total of sixteen editions of the popular series, many famous fighters have passed through the FCFN ranks, for example WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, UFC welterweight contender Dan Hardy and WEC bantamweight Brad Pickett.

 

But how did it all get started for the man who starts his bouts with his famous catchphrase “Get ready for war!”? “It all started by accident really”, Grant remembers for wfc.si, “I was at a kickboxing show back in 1999 and they had a few Shootfighting bouts on the card. I knew the promoter and was helping out with the setup. Just as the event was about to start, the promoter approached me and said that the referee had not turned up and asked whether I would be willing to stand in.”

 

From that night on, things took on a life of their own for the man with the characteristic hairstyle: “It was around the turn of the Millennium that MMA was taking off in the United Kingdom and there were no referees around. So I started to get a few calls and started to work on a few shows. Cage Rage and Cage Warriors started promoting events around the UK and I was asked to referee both. I became the first specialist MMA referee over here and started to get loads of jobs.”

 

Talking to somebody with Grant’s experience, of course we are interested in his opinion on WFC as well: “It does have something great about it. It’s just a complete package: Great production, lights, sound and entrances. There’s always an awesome atmosphere and fantastic fights. It all just comes together to make a brilliant show. Using Pride rules sets it apart from all the other big shows out there. Pride captured something special back in the day and WFC is carrying it on.”

 

Mr. Waterman does not only have good words for Slovenia’s flagship fighting event, but also for the country and its citizens: “I really like Slovenia. It’s a beautiful country. I have even been looking at buying a place up in the mountains as a holiday home. The people are friendly and everyone seems happy. The women in Slovenia are wonderful and they conduct themselves as ladies. It’s a great country!”

 

If you want to see “The Ref” in action, make sure to get your tickets for WFC 10 “Night of Champions”, which takes place at the Hala Tivoli in Ljubljana. Tickets are available at eventim.si and all Ljubljana box offices and start at a moderate 25 Euro. If you cannot make it to beautiful Slovenia, the event will also be streamed live on the internet. Our media partner 24ur.com will have stream for just 5 Euro, available worldwide.

 

Don’t miss when Grant says: “Get ready for war!”

by Tim Leidecker (tleidecker@gnp1.de)