2025 Australian MMA Official of the Year - Cutman Malcolm Roberts

Some awards go to the people under the bright lights. This one goes to the person who keeps the lights on.

Malcolm Roberts is the 2025 Australian MMA Official of the Year, and anyone who has been around the scene, specifically Eternal MMA & Beatdown Promotions knows why. Mal is one of the best cutmen in Australia. His dedication to his craft and to the sport is second to none, and his love for the fighters and everyone around them is obvious in the way he works. Calm, composed, precise, and always focused on care.

He has kept plenty of fighters in contests by patching cuts between rounds, and that level of expertise is exactly why coaches and fighters specifically request him in their corner. That kind of trust is earned over years of professionalism, not hype. You will struggle to find anyone with a bad word to say about Mal either, which is its own achievement in a sport where emotions run hot. It speaks to the respect he shows every person he interacts with.

What really pushed him over the line this year is what he has done beyond fight night. Mal has dedicated time to mentoring junior cutmen and cutwomen, quietly raising the standard and passing on knowledge that makes the sport safer and more professional for everyone.

And there is a depth to him that makes the recognition feel even more fitting. He has shared his own story publicly as a veteran, nurse, dad and husband, a survivor of PTSD, and a mental health advocate. That lived perspective shows up in the steadiness he brings to the chaotic moments, and in the way he looks after people.

Malcolm Roberts is an easy winner. A great official, a great cutman, and by all accounts, an even better bloke.

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