UFC Quick Quote: John McCarthy 'never criticized the UFC'

by Jesse Holland on Mar 19, 2009 1:20 PM EDT

I never criticized the UFC -- that's a lie. If you're going to talk about while I was broadcasting, did I say something wasn't a good fight? Yeah, but I never said the UFC is bad; I don't do that. I spent too many years building up the UFC, getting people to love the UFC. It would serve me no purpose in saying bad things about something I actually care a lot about. Bring out what I did: Was it a blog I wrote? Is it something you have tape of me saying, like "The UFC is bad"? Everything can't be complimentary about everything they do. There's obviously going to be things I don't agree with, personally, that they do. It doesn't mean I'm right; it just means it goes against the way I think it should be done.

-- "Big" John McCarthy comments to Sherdog.com about the perception that he is anti-Zuffa following some comments he made about the promotion last year. McCarthy, who retired from mixed martial arts as a referee for a new career as an on-air personality and strategic adviser for The Fight Network (only to resign and return to officiating 11 months later at Strikeforce: "Destruction" in November 2008) -- still has not re-applied for an officiating license in Nevada.

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Well that explains it; it’s his own fault he’s not refing UFC bouts; no one can blame Dana or the UFC for black balling McCarthy now.

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 12:42 PM EDT reply actions

So……….why doesn’t he apply for his Nevada license again? To busy reffing other crappy MMA bouts? I am sure UFC pays pretty good.

by Travo on Mar 19, 2009 12:47 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t know why he hasn’t, but he sure needs to. BJM is a fixture of the UFC. Even the casual fans recognize him. The hardcore fans recognize that he is the best ref in the game, and never has any problem breaking up a fight.

by naturalshadow on Mar 19, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

ufc doesnt pay him, the athletic comission does.

by josh on Mar 20, 2009 5:32 AM EDT up reply actions

What was it that he supposedly said about the UFC?

by Winner by Strikes!! on Mar 19, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions

click on the link above; he’s not really trash talking he’s just disagreeing.

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I just listened to the whole thing – nothing bad toward the UFC in THIS interview IMHO.

Do the refs really get paid that shitty?? 30K?? That can’t be true.

Its time to for Big John and the UFC to kiss and make up in time for UFC 100. Brock is going to need Big John to get his foot out of Mir’s grip.

by UFC Champ on Mar 19, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Hell I could live off that; and get the best seat in the house at all the fights?? Sign me up!

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Though I have to admit, being locked in a cage with Wanderlei Silva and Rampage Jackson sounds like some scarey sh!t.

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

UFC Champ, keep in mind that he was making 30K and only working one weekend a month! Not to mention the commision was paying all his traveling fees and food. That is nothing to be whinning about. Big John thinks he is a celebrity and should be paid more which is BS IMO.

by WCMMA217 on Mar 19, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

WCMMA217…true, one weekend a month for 30k is not all that bad. But, that’s considering he would only ref for the UFC and not any other promotion.

by UFC Champ on Mar 19, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Which is basically all he did for several years.

by WCMMA217 on Mar 19, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah and you didn’t talk shit about the Fight Network when you left there either. Come on, I remember him talking down on the UFC and apparently he had some things to say about Keith Kizer too. Refs can’t be expressing opinions and training fighters. They are supposed to be unbiased and behind the scenes.

by WCMMA217 on Mar 19, 2009 12:49 PM EDT reply actions

In fairness, he was a RETIRED ref at the time, his job as a commentator isn’t to promote the UFC and Kizer its to give an honest opinion….Regardless of what he said as a commentator it should not be held against him as a ref.

Micheal Jordan sucked at Baseball, should he have not been allowed to return to basketball?

by john on Mar 19, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Guys like Dana and Kizer don’t look at it that way. If I have learned anything about the business practice of the UFC, it is to not betray them or your out for good. I know John was just giving an opinion on some issues but it looks bad for for Dana when he is trying to run a business.

by WCMMA217 on Mar 19, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions

He’ll probably re-apply just in time to ref for UFC 100. Make it extra-special for all of us.

by mburtoni on Mar 19, 2009 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

There is a reason that he hasn’t reapplied yet. I guess there is some beef between him and Kizer.

by WCMMA217 on Mar 19, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Anyone hear about BJ MUTA in valencia ca?

by belfort_fan on Mar 19, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions

Come back, John. You’re sorely missed…

by BigRedOne on Mar 19, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions

He’s been back.. he just don’t comment on every single thread; check the Guida vs Lashly thread

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

wtf. id say he was taking about macCarthy…

by josh on Mar 20, 2009 5:45 AM EDT up reply actions

LOL, good point

by O damn he got caught on Mar 20, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. UFC needs John back in a bad way

by Josh H. on Mar 19, 2009 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry Mania, what a waste of a post! He said nothing wrong, and posting stuff like this may lead some people to think that he did – especially some of the d**kheads who have written first on here today. Simply, he in the best ref in MMA and I hope they bring him back to do every fight at UFC 100.

by DownUnder on Mar 19, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions

I remember him doing a slew of interviews after he quit and criticizing a lot of people. His job fell through and now he’s backpedaling. He thinks he deserves to get on everyone’s case because he has been in the sport for a long time, but he should probably just pipe down and do his job.

by Kuato on Mar 20, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions