Grant Waterman: “Combat Sports Have Saved Many People from Their Dark Side”

Svetoslav Manoilov from Boec.bg spoke with Grant Waterman – former referee in some of the biggest combat promotions and now a commentator for SENSHI – about his remarkably diverse life and journey through the world of fighting.

Waterman shared that his path has taken him through many roles over the years – from serving as a marine and working in security, to competing as a fighter in karate, boxing, sambo, and MMA, before transitioning into a referee, ring announcer, and ultimately a commentator. His story reflects a lifetime deeply connected to combat sports in every possible way.

In the interview, he spoke about how his journey in martial arts began and how he made the transition from fighter to referee. He also recalled one of the wildest moments of his career, revealing that during his first visit to Bulgaria in 2008 as a referee, he had a gun pointed at his head three times. “Those were crazy years,” he admitted.

Today, Waterman has been working with SENSHI for the past three years and says he finally feels he has found his place. He expressed his strong connection to the region, adding that he loves Bulgaria and the Balkans.

Beyond the action in the ring, Waterman emphasized the deeper impact of combat sports, saying he believes they have saved many people from their darker paths in life, giving them discipline, purpose, and direction.

Discover more about the complex personality and extraordinary journey of Grant Waterman in the full video interview: