A rare “referee injury” moment at UFC 324
Officials usually leave a fight with nothing more than a few extra steps on the pedometer. But at Ufc’s UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett, veteran referee Mark Smith became the story in the most unusual way possible.
The incident happened during Fight: Gautier vs. Pulyaev, as Ateba Gautier and Andrey Pulyaev were in the middle of their action. Smith suddenly went down in the cage after tearing his Achilles tendon — a freak injury that instantly turned into viral footage because it’s so uncommon to see a ref physically break down mid-bout.
Mark Smith has been carried out. Hope he is alright. pic.twitter.com/OqBT6sW7bO
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) January 25, 2026
Carried out, clipped everywhere, and even Dana White reacted
Smith had to be helped out and was carried backstage, with cameras catching the moment from multiple angles. According to the event chatter afterward, even the promotion’s top brass reacted with surprise, because this isn’t the kind of “fight-night danger” anyone expects for an official. It’s a reminder that the Octagon is still a live environment, even for the third person inside it.
Surgery on January 24, 2026 and a public recovery message
Two weeks after the injury, Smith underwent surgery on January 24, 2026. In an update attributed to MMA Junkie, he said the operation “was successful” and that he’s now focused on recovery and future milestones.
What recovery usually looks like for an Achilles tear
An Achilles rupture typically means months away from full duty, even for referees. The early phase often includes immobilization and controlled weight-bearing, followed by physical therapy to rebuild strength, balance, and mobility. For someone like Smith — a key official regularly used on high-stakes cards — the biggest question is simply timing: when he’s cleared to move confidently, pivot fast, and stay safe while managing elite athletes at full speed.
For now, the Ufc community’s message has been simple: heal up, take the time you need, and come back right.
