Veteran UFC referee Mark Smith was forced to leave T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night after tearing his ACL while officiating a fight at UFC 324. The injury, typically associated with fighters inside the cage, marked a rare occurrence for a sports official and left fans concerned when video footage showed Smith being carried out by Nevada State Athletic Commission personnel.
UFC Referee Mark Smith Suffers Torn ACL During Fight at UFC 324
Smith officiated the middleweight bout between Ateba Gautier and Andrey Pulyaev, which went the full three rounds and ended in a unanimous decision for Gautier. Despite the injury, Smith remained on-site long enough to raise Gautier’s hand after the verdict.
UFC President Dana White addressed the incident during the post-fight press conference. “Nobody’s asked me about the ref tearing his ACL during the fight,” White said. He confirmed the severity of the injury and noted that Smith “blew his ACL” and had to be carried out of the arena. White compared the situation to announcer Bruce Buffer, who previously tore his ACL at UFC 129 in 2011 while introducing Georges St-Pierre during the main event.
Smith, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and member of the Thunderbirds demonstration team, is one of the most active referees in Nevada. He has officiated approximately 300 UFC fights over the past three years. His background as a pilot and Armed Services veteran makes him well-suited for the split-second decision-making required in mixed martial arts officiating.
The injury will likely sideline Smith for a significant portion of 2026. ACL reconstruction typically requires six to nine months of recovery before returning to full activity, with some cases extending up to 12 months. Smith posted an encouraging message on Instagram after being helped backstage but has not publicly detailed the injury.
