A must read! I grabbed this Article off Mark Daniels Blog on the Boston Globe website.
By Mark Daniels
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
When the UFC comes to Boston for the first time on Saturday night, many of the area’s best fighters will be on display.
Yet, one individual who helped lead the mixed martial arts charge in the commonwealth, referee Kevin MacDonald, will have no part in UFC 118, and some are disappointed in that.
A Watertown resident, MacDonald has refereed in the Bay State for nearly a decade, presiding over more than 1,100 bouts in Massachusetts. This year, he was one of six MMA referees and their training programs recognized as being the best in North America.
Like any MMA ref, MacDonald’s goal is to make it to the big-time.
A father of two and a Watertown fireman, he thought his dream would be realized when he received an e-mail in late July congratulating him on being selected to ref in UFC 118.
However, two hours later, he received a phone call notifying him he wasn’t selected. Even more shocking, according to MacDonald, was the reasoning why.
“I talked to (Massachusetts State Athletic Commissioner) Todd Grossman the next day, and he told me I was not a team player,” MacDonald said. “I’m very concerned and very unhappy that personal grievances and personality issues are getting in the way of whoever is the most qualified for a job.
“This hit me like an unexpected punch in the stomach. It’s been 100 percent (my passion). This would’ve been sort of the circle coming complete.”
Grossman declined comment when asked why MacDonald wasn’t chosen. He did say the original e-mail notifying MacDonald that he would ref in the show was accidentally sent.
“He was mistakenly notified. He just wasn’t assigned. He just wasn’t chosen for the fight,” Grossman said. “For this particular show we chose four of the best referees in the world. These are all guys who have reffed UFC events in the past.”
Somerville-based Sityodtong trainer Mark DellaGrotte pointed out that MacDonald has worked hard to get the sport sanctioned in Massachusetts. He was angry with the way things transpired.
“It’s kind of a slap in the face to Kevin,” DellaGrotte said. “He’s been there since Day 1. He helped us build this sport, he helped us legalize this sport. And he’s the best at what he does. And now that the UFC is finally coming to Boston we need to bring out our best and all our big guns.
“Kevin’s not going to be there, and that upsets me.”
This is a shame,
Kevin is one of the faces of MMA in Massachusetts. He has been here since day one and gives more to the sport than anybody else in the local scene.
You couldn’t ask for a more fair or more knowledgeable person in the cage.
Outside the ring he is the coolest and most down to earth person. He always has time for conversation and takes time to talk with all promoters, match makers, fighters and fans.
I wish him the best. If anyone deserves it due to hard work its Kev the ref.
KEV, IF THEY ARE FKN WITH YOU YOU MUST BE DOIN SOMETHING RIGHT! NO VALID REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN!
Wow that is bullshit, Kevin is more than qualified to referee for the UFC…another good reason why mass. blows
Absolutely ri-god damn-diculous!
Boycott the UFC! MMA is bigger than one organization, and to slap an MMA pioneer like Kevin in the face like this is just another example of Dana White’s hubris.
Guys like Kevin built MMA region by region, and now one organization acts like they invented the sport. UFC has officially jumped the shark.
Dana White had nothing to do this and neither did the UFC. The decision was made by the commission.
But Bonnell… the GLOBE!?! Come on man… the Herald is where it’s at.
Wow .kEVIN is a solid individual that is a shame. Heads will roll.
BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!! Kevin is the man in Mass MMA!!! I think it’s foolish that the commissioner’s want you to kiss thier asses to get what is deserved!!! Kevin should be reffing!!!
More reaction, from Joe Lauzon, Mark DellaGrotte and NJ Commissioner Nick Lembo, about Kevin here http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/inside_the_octagon/index.php/2010/08/24/joe-lauzon-and-others-on-kevin-macdonald/
I stand corrected…boycott the commission!
Hmmm… not being a team player? Didnt kevin the ref pretty much keep the local scene running, and run better ‘unregulated’ than ‘regulated’? Was Kevin ‘vocal’ in regards to amatuer mma and KICK? (i.e. is that the team issue?).
3 or 4 times a year I shell out money for tickets to local shows, and usually will buy better seats. I need to hunt down a photo of Todd, so next show, I can introduce myself, shake his hand, look him in the eye, and tell him what an a*hole he is.
I think he has been the ref at every single one of the many live cards I have attended over the years. This is an embarassment to MA MMA. I do think the blame seems to be on Todd Grossman, not the UFC. I’d say that Kevin has been great at every show, and I’m shocked to hear he won’t be at the UFC.
Ahh Shit! Sorry Mark… The Herald is where its at. I apologise for the mishap. I will correct it later. I was writing this while I was working my day job. This is volunteer work (Like being a commissioner) so I do it during my paid job
Good thing I’m not a detective or police officer or something huh? Lol
I want to say this does show how unprofessional our commission is. Business is Business and personal conflicts shouldn’t result in a man with so much passion and involvment being pushed out because of someones opinion of another.
I heard today that chairholder Latisha Adams will be part of a press conference in which she’ll be speaking of her Valuable roll in getting MMA sanctioned in Massachusetts…….lol
I wonder if she’ll be on the clock for the Boston Police dept.
during that conference? She seems to be able to juggle 2 MSAC meetings a month and make it to MMA events one weekend a month during working ours.
Like I said, I’m actually typing this while I’m teaching a class. I guess if you can cheat the system and still collect , do it right? The superintendent isn’t around so its cool
^ Ah Latisha, clueless, clueless, clueless…
I remember attending a live event a few months back (prob an AFO show at Mansfield?), and Dave Guinsberg (sp?) was one of the judges, and spent the whole night going through and explaining everything to her. I give Dave credit, she needs to be educated, and he was able to do both, but man it has get annoying.
Of course I’m pretty sure the commission was close to all gone by the time the ammys were done and the pros were fighting.
How much money do these, along with their jr. commission members get paid?
I hate to say this but I PRAY that Mazzagatti is on the card and blows a call badly. It will make the commission look really bad and kevin look like the man.
Kevin has been a great ref for us in New Hampshire. It’s unfortunate that he was not selected to ref in the UFC in his home state of MA.
You couldn’t ask for a more experienced, seasoned ref in Kevin. I would take him over Yves Levigne anyday! Is there a way we can change this? I mean can Dellegrotte pull some strings with Dana and the MA comission? This is rediculous. The response by Grossman made it clear he wants a BJ (not Penn lol) if you wanna get on the card. Not literally of course, although who knows? Seriously, MA comission, GET THIS FIXED, you continue to embarrass the state and the sport!!!
Massachusetts’s loss is New Hampshire’s gain!
In other news, Bonnell is no longer licensed to fight in the Bay State!
Portrait of an Achiever
1831 He Failed in Business – Bankruptcy.
1832 Defeated for Legislature.
1834 Failed in Business again – Bankruptcy.
1835 Sweetheart and Fiancee died.
1836 Nervous Breakdown.
1838 Defeated in an Election.
1843 Defeated for U.S. Congress.
1846 Defeated again for U.S. Congress.
1848 Defeated once again for U.S. Congress.
1855 Defeated for U.S. Senate.
1856 Defeated for U.S. Vice President.
1858 Defeated again for U.S. Senate.
1860 Elected President of the United States.
… Abraham Lincoln
You cannot fail…UNLESS you quit!
“A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.”
That’s a great post kick! I’ll never quit. Anyone calls for a ref, I’m there.
Been away but always looking into stuff and just Had to say Kevin is hands down the best guy to have around and always giving 110% for MMA. Keep up the good work and don’t get sucked into the DRAMA…”The Angry Man”