NSAC Rejects “Big” John McCarthy’s Officiating License Application
McCarthy — perhaps the most recognized and respected referee in the history of the sport — retired from his in-ring duties following his 535th bout (the main event between Roger Huerta and Clay Guida) at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 6 Finale in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 8, 2007.
‘Big’ John hung up the medical gloves to pursue a new career as an on-air personality and strategic adviser for The Fight Network, as well as a color commentator for the Affliciton: “Banned” event in July of 2008.
During his absence, the famed referee made comments in support of then-exiled star Randy Couture, as well as some criticism regarding the direction of UFC pay-per-views and its current officiating.
I’m sure the NSAC wasn’t a huge fan of a ref going out in public and criticizing a promotion and then trying to come back and get licensed to work fights in that promotion. They certainly aren’t coming out and saying it, but I think that is driving a large part of their decision. Of course, some MMA fans don’t care about any of the politics but rather are focused having the best available refs working their events. Kid Nate at BloodyElbow speaks up on their behalf:
Obviously the commissioner of the NSAC is well within his rights to deny McCarthy’s license, but as a fan who is painfully painfully aware of the desperate shortage of top quality referees in MMA it pains me to see the best and most experienced referee in the game locked out of the biggest state in MMA.
This has everything to do with politics and punishing McCarthy for speaking truth to power at the expense of what’s best for the sport.
If a fighter is grievously injured during a high-profile bout in Nevada due to sub-par refereeing, I hope that Mr. Kizer is ready to defend his actions and decision making.
