MMA ref has somebody else hold microphone, why?

Question

Before a match, the referee will have gloves on his hands and have his arms/hands towards the two fighters. Another man will have his arm between the referee's body and arm, and he'll hold the microphone and have the referee speak into it. My question is simply: why?

Answer 1

i think its a hygeine thing. the gloves are supposed to be sterile so if the ref has to touch a fighter it wont give him diseases

Answer 2

i noticed that too. thought it was weird. my only guess is that the ref wears gloves for hygienic purposes and doesn't want to contaminate them with the mic.