The retired referee gave his take on the controversial stoppage that saw UFC Brooklyn’s headliner end in a 32-second TKO for Henry Cejudo. A week has passed since the UFC’s maiden voyage on ESPN and the stunning first-round demolition job Henry Cejudo was able to pull off on 135lb king TJ Dillashaw remains as prevalent a story as ever. The stoppage came …
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The legendary referee and recent Bellator-signee gave his take on the ongoing controversy surrounding Jon Jones and his UFC 214 win against Daniel Cormier. Ever since the implementation of USADA testing for the UFC’s roster, the response from both the fighters and the general public has been mixed. For some, the fact that there are stricter regulations in place has …
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Bellator’s former colour-commentator Jimmy Smith has officially signed with the UFC just weeks after announcing his departure from their biggest rival. Earlier this month it emerged that Bellator MMA’s longtime colour-commentator Jimmy Smith would be walking away from the promotion after reportedly failing to reach an agreement during contract negotiations. Of course, in the days that followed that news, the legendary …
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Big John McCarthy is recognised as arguably the best referee in the sport of mixed martial arts. His officiating in the UFC incredibly dates all the way back to UFC 2. He has also refereed in other promotions around the world including Bellator, K-1 (Japan), Strikeforce and many others. He has built a solid reputation as one of the most …
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Recognising the events and fighters deserving of an award in a scintillating 2017 for the UFC.
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Not surprisingly, ‘Big’ John McCarthy harbours no ill will toward Daniel Cormier for the now former UFC light-heavyweight champion’s post-fight actions at UFC 214 on Saturday night in Anaheim, California. After he was brutally KO’d by bitter rival Jon Jones, a distressed and confused Cormier argued with the veteran official and ripped his hand away from McCarthy during the announcement …
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‘Big’ John McCarthy has been displaying his trademark largeness and refereeing prowess in various MMA cages since UFC 2. UFC 2, folks. That was all the way back in March of 1994. In the 23 years since, McCarthy has had the pleasure, and, we’d imagine, occasionally, the displeasure, of sharing the stage with the biggest names in the history of …
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In a recent interview with MMAjunkie Radio, veteran UFC referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy explained why he feels that the act of weight cutting causes more danger to MMA fighters than PEDs. McCarthy doesn’t feel that fighters should be allowed to use PEDs. He is, however, keen to stress that the risk of death inside the octagon is far more likely to increase …
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After his first-round knockout loss to Michael Bisping at UFC 199, Luke Rockhold admitted that he had fatally underestimated Michael Bisping. “It was just underestimating and over-committing with a jab,” Rockhold, who suddenly found himself an ex-UFC middleweight champion, told UFC on Fox shortly after the fight(via MMAMania). “It was stupid, I just didn’t feel like he had anything for …
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The legendary referee, ‘Big’ John McCarthy gave a short but definitive response to being asked if Conor McGregor can KO Floyd Mayweather. MMA is a sport filled to the brim with iconic figures but there are few who truly stand as real legends of the game – outside of the fighters themselves – like the long-time referee, ‘Big’ John McCarthy. …
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With the anti-drama of UFC 209’s main event clash between Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson now firmly in the rear view mirror, Joe Rogan has revealed just how close referee John McCarthy came to stopping the fight in the fifth round. Speaking with Alberto Gallazzi on his podcast, Rogan recounts a conversation he had with McCarthy about the late flurry …
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Veteran referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy was not at all happy with Tito Ortiz when the former UFC light-heavyweight champion held on to a rear-naked choke for several seconds after rival Chael Sonnen had submitted last Saturday night at Bellator 170. However, McCarthy doesn’t agree with calls from some fans for the now retired Ortiz to be punished more seriously for …
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December 12th 2015 will surely go down as the worst night in Jose Aldo’s career… After a left hook from Conor McGregor sent Jose Aldo into a state of unconsciousness just 13 seconds into the main event of UFC 194, referee John McCarthy had to react quickly in order to stop the Irishman from raining hammer fists down on the …
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MMA referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy is one of the sport’s most iconic figures. His tenure with the Ultimate Fighting Championship extends all the way back to UFC 2 in 1994, and since then he has established himself as the go-to referee when it comes to officiating the promotion’s most high profile bouts. His résumé speaks for itself and his knowledge …
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Roy Nelson rebounded from his split decision defeat to Derrick Lewis back in July with a TKO victory over Antonio Silva at UFC Fight Night 95 in Brasilia on Saturday. A big right-hand from ‘Big Country’ dropped ‘Bigfoot’ towards the end of the second round and referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy intervened to give Nelson the, you guessed it, big win …
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On Tuesday, in Las Vegas, the Association of Boxing Commissions(ABC) voted overwhelmingly in favour of a proposal put forth by it’s rules and regulations committee to alter MMA’s Unified Rules on a number of salient and often controversial issues. Due to this development the definition of what constitutes a ‘grounded fighter’ has been changed, referees have been armed with more …
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‘Big’ John McCarthy will referee the massive welterweight rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz at UFC 202 on August 20th, it was decided at a meeting of the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday. McCarthy has dealt with both combatants in the past, as he was the third man in the ring for Diaz’s 2011 loss to Rory MacDonald …
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“He’s gone Jim, and you know he’s gone”: the words of boxing referee Roy Francis on September 21st 1991. Francis was holding aloft Michael Watson, who had just gone eleven and half rounds with Chris Eubank for the WBO super middleweight title. During this 11th round Watson was on the cusp of victory. Eubank’s legs had gone. His usual crisp, quick …
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