Christopher J. Berry
Combat Sports Judge  ·  Boxing & MMA & Kickboxing
Christopher
J. Berry
Profile

Attorney and seasoned combat sports practitioner with over 15 years as a dedicated student of boxing and MMA. A BJJ purple belt with 11 years of active mat time and a grappling partner to UFC fighters across all weight classes — from Heavyweight to Strawweight — combining elite-level practitioner knowledge with the analytical precision demanded by the legal profession. Committed to the integrity of judging and the promotion of fair competition in the combat sports arena.

Judging History
Date Event Sport Status
Feb 20, 2026 Motor City Cagefights 23 MMA Official · Paid
Dec 28, 2025 Clip Knockout Series Boxing / Kickboxing Alternate · Unpaid
Nov 1, 2025 Night of Knockouts XXXVI Boxing Alternate · Unpaid

↳ Live record — updated automatically from Google Sheets

Unarmed Combat Judging Credentials
Marc Goddard — UFC Referee
Completed UFC Referee Marc Goddard's Judge Training Program

Christopher has completed Marc Goddard's internationally recognized Certified Referee & Judge Training Course — the definitive MMA officiating program developed and led by one of the world's most experienced combat sports referees. Goddard has refereed in over 40 countries, officiated UFC World Championship bouts, and is the architect of the IMMAF's global officials certification program.

Unified Rules of MMA 10-Point Must System Scoring Criteria Fouls & Protocol Decision Types Judging Assessment Written Examination
Training delivered by the same instructor who designed the IMMAF's official international certification course for MMA referees and judges, recognized by leading promotions worldwide including the UFC.
Course curriculum covers the complete theoretical and practical knowledge required to officiate under the Unified Rules of MMA — from round scoring and effective striking assessment to grappling evaluation and ethical conduct.
Marc Goddard — UFC Referee since 2008, the first UK referee ever appointed to the UFC and the first licensed to officiate in the USA including Las Vegas. He has refereed 1,000+ professional MMA fights across 40+ countries, officiated numerous UFC World Championship bouts, and was the most utilized UFC referee in 2025 — overseeing 10 UFC title fights in that year alone. He is widely regarded alongside Herb Dean as one of the most respected officials in the sport.
At a Glance
3 Events Judged
11 Years BJJ
15+ Yrs Fan / Student
20+ Yrs Legal Career
Combat Sports
MMA
Boxing
Kickboxing
Grappling
BJJ
Martial Arts Background
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — Purple Belt
11 years of active training. Deep practitioner understanding of submissions, positional control, guard work, and transitions as applied to MMA judging criteria.
Grappling Partner — UFC Fighters
Has trained alongside UFC competitors spanning every weight class, from Heavyweight men's to Strawweight women's, providing elite-level insight into the speed, power, and technique differentials judges must assess.
Judging Criteria
  • Effective striking — volume, accuracy & power
  • Effective grappling & takedowns
  • Aggression & cage / ring control
  • 10-Point Must System
  • Unified Rules of MMA
  • ABC Judging Criteria
Availability
Based in Brighton, Michigan
Available for regional & national sanctioned events
Boxing, MMA & Kickboxing cards
Why I Love Judging
"Two athletes.
One moment.
Everything on the line."

There is something deeply moving about combat sports — the raw honesty of competition at its purest. Two individuals who have sacrificed sleep, social lives, and physical comfort, spending months in a gym perfecting their craft, all for a single night where everything is tested. I have been captivated by that story for over 15 years, and it never gets old.

I came to this through jiu-jitsu — eleven years on the mat, competing, grinding, and loving every minute of it. Then came two hip replacements and two dislocations on the same hip. My days as a competitor were over. But my passion for the sport wasn't.

Judging gave me a way to stay connected to something I love — to honor the athletes who put in that work by evaluating their performance with the care and precision it deserves. As an attorney, justice and fairness aren't just professional obligations — they are core values. Every fighter deserves a judge who is fully present, deeply knowledgeable, and completely impartial. That is what I bring to every card I sit on.