Pioneering U.K. MMA referee Neil Hall dies from COVID-19 complications; tributes pour in

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Pioneering U.K. MMA referee Neil Hall dies from COVID-19 complications; tributes pour in

Veteran MMA referee Neil Hall has died.

A longtime official and coach, Hall died after a three-week battle with COVID-19 pneumonia. He was 53.

Hall’s wife, Kath, revealed the news in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Kath said Hall contracted the virus at a follow-up appointment following an August back procedure.

“Over the years, Neil has met many people from all over the world and has had lots of fantastic experiences,” Kath wrote. “Today we have to say goodbye to him.”

Tributes began to pour in once the news of Hall’s death spread. While many adjectives were used to describe Hall, some reoccurring ones include “legend,” “pioneer,” “coach,” “friend,” and “true martial artist.” Referee Marc Goddard was among those who paid tribute.

“Anyone who is anyone in UKMMA will have known Neil,” Goddard wrote on Facebook. “A tough as nails gritty northerner who wore his heart on his sleeve and was just a bloody good bloke.”

According to Tapology, Hall officiated 40 UFC fights from September 2013 to September 2019. Goddard recalled the excitement the two shared when Hall got his first event assignment to officiate his first one, UFC Fight Night 28 in September 2013.

“When Neil made it to the UFC it was like a kid at Christmas and he was so proud and Neil you made it your way and I’m so glad you got to stand there and do what you truly loved,” Goddard said. “I will not forget our words.”

From students to friends to family to dozens of fighters who had bouts officiated by Hall, it seems he was unanimously admired by those in the U.K. MMA community.

In an interview with Martial News in 2011, Hall discussed his journey through the world of martial arts. It began with judo in 1982, then karate, which he earned his black belt. From there, Hall fell in love with other martial arts: muay Thai, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and grappling. Hall competed at the national and international level in Sambo.

In 2000, Hall opened one of the first MMA gyms in the U.K., Fighting Chance, where he trained the future generation of martial artists. He later moved on and opened up Allegiance MMA. In 2001, Hall began judging MMA bouts, the segue to his refereeing stint.

He later started MMA Officials UK, which supplied trained referees and judges to regional MMA shows in the U.K., in an effort to raise the standard of officiating.

“There are some people who do to make as much money as they can and then there are those who have grown up in the industry and (it’s) more of a passion for them,” Hall told Martial News back then. “I believe I fall into the later category because MMA is my life and I want to do it right for both the safety and standards of the sport.”

Check out a sample of the social media tributes for referee Neil Hall below:

Pioneering U.K. MMA referee Neil Hall dies from COVID-19 complications; tributes pour in

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