Marc Goddard takes responsibility for what he feels was a mistake on his part during the UFC 252 main event.
The veteran referee was the third man in the queue for Saturday’s heavyweight championship trilogy match between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier, who saw Miocic win the rubber match by unanimous decision to retain his UFC title. Afterwards, Cormier complained of an eyeball at the end of the third round which limited his vision and there was visible damage to the area during the fight and Cormier’s conversation after the fight (UFC president Dana White later said he thought a clean punch caused the eye injury, which was further aggravated by the poke).
Cormier also said Goddard admitted after the fight that he missed the offense, a claim that Goddard confirmed in an apology he shared on social media Sunday.
“Immediately after the fight when I saw the replay, I apologized to Daniel Cormier and his team and I do so in public and without reservation that I miss what I should not – but I can not name what I do not see. , “Goddard wrote. ‘I do not have giants and multiple angles, it is a take-one recording in real time.
There was one other eyeball in the fight that happened in the first round, with Miocic at the receiving end, and that foul resulted in Goddard pausing the fight.
Goddard admitted that he feels it is important to be held accountable for his actions, given the integral role he plays on fight night.
“I practice what I preach and as a man I stand tall and am on my head,” Goddard wrote. ‘If you accept plaudits, then you also have to deal with mistakes, which is proof that you are listening, being honest and asking for improvement. Rough with the smoothness, acceptance and ownership. ”
See Goddard’s full statement below:
I practice what I preach and as a man I stand tall and am upside down. If you accept plaudits, then you also have to deal with mistakes, which is the proof that you are listening to improvement, being honest and asking. Rough with the smoothness, acceptance, and ownership. Right after the fight when I saw the replay, I apologized to Daniel Cormier and his team and I do so in public and without reservation that I miss what I should not have – but I can not name what I do not see. I do not have replacements and multiple angles, it is a take recording in real time. I can not convey how much I have lived and loved this sport both for the last 20 years. I really appreciate everyone who understands it.
