Hardy argues that a referee's primary responsibility is to protect both fighters, even if it means stopping a fight prematurely. He contrasts this with the fighters' mindset, where they are trained to push through and not expect the opponent to pull punches, emphasizing that the referee is the sole protector in such moments.

Impact: Medium. This perspective underscores the critical, often thankless, role of the referee in MMA, balancing the desire for exciting fights with the non-negotiable need for fighter safety.

In the source video, this keypoint occurs from 00:15:31 to 00:18:10.

Sources in support: Dan Hardy (Commentator, Former Fighter)