Large John McCarthy is a legendary MMA referee who coined the time period “combined martial arts” and helped write lots of the sport’s early guidelines. Officiating his first card again at UFC 2 in 1994, Large John is broadly considered a supreme authority on guidelines and referee conduct.
Though he has retired from refereeing bouts, Large John stays concerned within the sport by instructing COMMAND programs, a hybrid referee and judging class. COMMAND is an internationally acknowledged college for MMA referees and judges.
A controversial second involving a referee occurred on Saturday throughout UFC Struggle Evening: Ulberg vs. Reyes, within the combat between Neil Magny and Jake Matthews. Matthews had Magny locked in a submission with solely seconds left within the first spherical when referee Jim Perdios stepped in and stopped the combat, believing Magny had gone unconscious. Nevertheless, Magny was nonetheless aware and instantly protested the stoppage.
The UFC commentary staff reacted to the unlucky flip of occasions. Moments later, confusion ensued when the referee knowledgeable the fighters that the spherical had really ended and the combat would proceed. This determination opened the door for a third-round submission comeback victory by the UFC veteran Neil Magny.
Upon reviewing the slow-motion replay, it was clear that there was nonetheless time left on the clock when the referee prematurely intervened.
In instances of complicated or controversial referee choices, the MMA group typically turns to Large John McCarthy. He addressed the difficulty in the course of the newest episode of his Weighing In podcast.
Large John McCarthy Breaks Down Controversial UFC Stoppage
“When Neil’s arm went out and he type of fucking dropped it, you see the referee react. We name it, take a look at the macro. Don’t take a look at the micro, which means don’t stare at his eyes, take a look at all the physique, as a result of his will let you know. What’s his legs doing? That’s an enormous a part of it, what are his arms doing, however you’ll be able to’t simply look and say, I’m going to cease one thing,” Large John defined whereas breaking down the sequence.
He added additional perception into the timing of the stoppage: “I additionally don’t know the place the referee was in his depend as a result of the clacker had gone off with the ten-second name. Everybody thinks it’s the bell that stops the spherical. The bell notifies the referee to cease as a result of many instances the fighters don’t hear the bell.”
Reflecting on the confusion and the aftermath, Large John elaborated, “When he made the cease, you’ll be able to see that Neil Magny was nonetheless there, and he goes no, no. It’s the tip of the spherical! Truthfully, it was the best factor, however the issue is if you do it, it might take any individual like Jake Matthews from having an adrenaline tremendous excessive then dumps them. It may be a psychological breakdown that’s not Jake’s fault.”
Ultimately, the choice to renew the combat gave the impression to be the proper name. It paved the way in which for a dramatic comeback submission victory by UFC veteran Neil Magny. Had the bout been stopped within the first spherical, followers would have been disadvantaged of a memorable second that now provides to Magny’s legacy.
