UFC veteran Ricardo Almeida made his major-event debut as an MMA judge at UFC on FOX 3.

Saturday May 5 was one of Ricardo Almeida’s toughest days since he announced his retirement from mixed martial arts just over a year ago.

Almeida was making his major-event debut as an MMA judge for UFC on Fox 3 at East Rutherford, N.J.’s Izod Center, but that wasn’t what had him on edge. And it wasn’t that he was the only judge to score the razor-close Johny Hendricks-Josh Koscheck fight for Koscheck, or even that he initially drove to Newark’s Prudential Center by mistake.

“I’ve been near the Octagon cornering Frankie (Edgar) and Tom DeBlass since I retired but this time around, sitting so close to the Octagon in the judges’ seats, you think about getting back in there and fighting again,” Almeida said during his appearance on Darce Side Radio with Mike Steczkowski on the MMA DieHards Radio Network.

“It was hard, but I look back at everything I did and it was a learning experience for me,” said Almeida of his MMA career. “I am grateful for making a lot of friends that I still get to see because I’m still involved. The UFC treats me like gold and I feel good about it. It’s time to move on and do other things.”

UFC President Dana White has made no secret about his frustration with current MMA judging and has pushed for former fighters to become judges. Almeida is at the forefront of the movement and is, of course, highly qualified. High-level MMA promotions are all that Almeida, a third-degree BJJ blackbelt under Renzo Gracie, has known in his career. He’s fought only for Pride, Pancrase and the UFC, amassing a 13-5 record. The thought is that former fighters see things current MMA judges, whom come mostly from a boxing background or perhaps kickboxing, don’t recognize.

“I think it’s great and I would love to see more – not just fighters – but coaches too giving back to the sport a little bit,” Almeida said.

The prospect of former coaches judging is an interesting point. Who is involved more in the technical aspect of the sport as much as them? But, as Almeida pointed out, the plan that makes sense on the surface can’t be implemented across the board.

“I talked to a couple of fighters who would like to judge but I don’t think every fighter can be a judge,” Almeida said. “Coaches are very involved in the sport on a daily basis so I would like to see some of them.”

When Almeida retired in March 2011 following his loss to Mike Pyle at UFC 128 he had no intention of becoming a judge. His life now would be consumed by his family and very successful BJJ academy, along with supporting teammates such as Frankie Edgar. Living, teaching and training fighters from New Jersey, Almeida always had a close relationship with New Jersey State Athletic Control Board Counsel Nick Lembo. One thing led to another and all of the sudden Almeida was in the judge’s seat.

“It all just kind of happened,” Almeida said. “Nick Lembo is someone I’ve been very close with and worked with over the years and it was a no-brainer to take part in it. It’s a great opportunity for me to give back to a sport that has given me so much.”

Almeida was a judge for Bellator events 49 and 59, but UFC on Fox 3 represented his first judging opportunity for the UFC. He personally scored the John Hathaway-Pascal Krauss, John Dodson-Tim Elliot, Michael Johnson-Tony Ferguson and Josh Koscheck-Johny Hendricks bouts. The one people were talking about after was the Koscheck-Hendricks title, which Hendricks won via split decision to earn a welterweight title shot. There were articles solely dedicated to Almeida being the only judge to score the fight for Koscheck, but not in a negative manner. Everyone wanted to know how the new, more-qualified judge saw things and if he was actually the only one to correctly score the fight.

“I feel though I’m the only judge to give it to Koscheck it wasn’t a controversial decision,” said Almeida, who isn’t allowed to speak in-depth about a fight he scored. “It was just a close fight that could have gone either way.”

Almeida is right when he says not every fighter is cut about to be a judge. He is the kind of person perfect for the job, however. Aside from being well-respected across the board, Almeida is more than just a retired fighter. As a professor he is involved in the sport from dusk ‘till dawn.

“I’ve always been a teacher first and that’s why I still do it,” Almeida said. Presenting people with their white belt and then 8, 10 years later handing them their black belt, I love doing that and I’ll do it until the day I die.”

“I’ll retire when I expire.”

Fighters always talk about not putting the fight in the judges’ hands. But when a scrap does go the distance, a man with as much passion as Almeida is the guy you want making the call.