Dan Miragliotta and Kevin Mulhall to referee USMTA bouts
Veteran UFC referees ‘Big’ Dan Miragliotta and Kevin Mulhall are adding more to their lengthy mixed martial arts resumes. The two will now also serve as referees for the United States Muay Thai Association Inc., (USMTA).
What is the USMTA?
The USMTA is an American Boxing Council (ABC) recognized third party sanctioning body for professional and amateur Muay Thai, Kickboxing and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) which was found in 1990.
In 2011 the USMTA was the first sanctioning body in New York State to sanction an amateur MMA event in the state since 1997.
In 2012 the USMTA’s created the Muay Boran League(MBL)Headed by Clint Heyliger, Eugene Perez and Tom Kilkenny to deal with the tremendous growth of amateur MMA in the nation and to ensure a regulation Standard for the sport of Amateur MMA
Kilkenny, Northeast Region Director of the USMTA wrote on Facebook, “Super happy to announce that the USMTA has brought on 2 of the best Referee’s in the World Big Dan Miragliotta and Kevin Mulhall. Be on the lookout for them both at one of our high profile Muay Thai shows that we sanction and Kevin on MMA shows as well! USMTA always trying to bring the very best for the fighters. USMTA officials and friends please welcome them to the family.”
In response to Kilkenny’s post, Mulhall wrote: “Thank you for having me, it is an honor to be part of the USMTA.“
About ‘BIG’ Dan Miragliotta
Miragliotta hosted a referee’s course for the USMTA this past weekend and will host another on April 17.
Future referee Dan Miragliotta mad his debut as UFC judge back at UFC 19 on March 5, 1999 at the Casino Magic in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Miragliotta began to learn a Japanese style karate known as Shito Ryu at around 14 years of age and earned his black belt at 18. At 21, he started doing Kenpo Karate and earned a 5th degree black belt. He also has a brown belt in Doce Pares Escrima, a senior instructorship in Muay Thai under Vut Kamnark and am a 3rd level instructor in Shoot fighting under Bart Vale and a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Renzo Gracie.
About Kevin Mulhall
Mulhall began refereeing at Ring of Combat 6 in April 2004. One of the moments that fans most likely remember Mulhall from was when Jason High was released from the UFC after shoving Mulhall who refereed the fight with Rafael dos Anjos who stopped him with a second-round TKO at UFC Fight Night 42.
Kilkenny later told MyMMANews.com that Miragliotta will work Muay Thai, K1, and Glory kickboxing events while Mulhall will work all of those as well as amateur mixed martial arts bouts sanctioned by the USMTA.
You can find out more about the USMTA here.
