How do refs avoid interfering in fights?

If you watch a lot of regional mma, especially russian mma for some reason, the refs get in the way all of the time. They get crushed by a guy getting double legged, tripped when a fighter circles the opposite direction, tangled in a fast paced scramble on the mat, squished against the cage when clinch fighting, it happens a lot. It may also have to do with the size of the cage/ring.

They also seem to be more performative, like WWF referees in pro wrestling. They often times dramatically collapse to the mat on their hands and knees, swivel their neck around, and they get their face up way too close to the action when a submission is applied. And they will also insesintly ask if the fighter submits in russian. It must be even more annoying for the fighter trying to escape the submission than it is to me watching.

It makes you really appreciate the refs in the higher league promotions. Expertise comes with repetition, and the refs in the UFC are by and far the most experienced.

/r/ufc Thread