Marc Ratner is known as the man who helped get the UFC regulated in various countries, paving the way for the league to extend its global popularity.
But for those in Las Vegas’ high school sports community, Ratner is much more. He’s the authority.
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Ratner is retiring this month as the commissioner of the Southern Nevada Officials Association, stepping away from a post he’s proudly served in since the early 1990s. He’s the liaison between game officials and the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association, the Clark County School District and local high schools.
“After all these years, I still get excited going to the games,” Ratner said. “Above all else, I’ve always been a high school sports fan.”
He takes his position seriously, all while balancing duties as the UFC’s vice president for regulatory affairs. He formerly was the head of the Nevada Athletic Commission.
When he’s traveling for the UFC—say to Paris for a fight card—he doesn’t miss a beat with his duties to the association, even if it means missing a few hours of sleep.
“You just don’t replace that knowledge,” said Vince Kristosik, president of the Southern Nevada Officials Association, when Ratner announced his retirement last fall. “Marc deals with 10 sports, and he has knowledge of all of them inside and out. Working around high school sports, that’s his real passion. With all he has going on, you must have that passion.”
If there’s an ejection in a prep game, he determines the penalty. When it’s time for a state championship game, he picks the referee crew. When there’s a meeting with officials from CCSD or the NIAA, he’s at the front of the table to give input.
“High school sports are a big part of my life,” he said. “I’m proud of my contributions.”
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