Huge John McCarthy is a legendary MMA referee who coined the time period “blended martial arts” and helped write lots of the sport’s early guidelines. Officiating his first card again at UFC 2 in 1994, Huge John is broadly thought to be a supreme authority on guidelines and referee conduct.
Though he has retired from refereeing bouts, Huge 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 struggle 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 struggle, believing Magny had gone unconscious. Nonetheless, Magny was nonetheless acutely aware and instantly protested the stoppage.
The UFC commentary crew reacted to the unlucky flip of occasions. Moments later, confusion ensued when the referee knowledgeable the fighters that the spherical had truly ended and the struggle would proceed. This choice 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 occasions of complicated or controversial referee choices, the MMA group usually turns to Huge John McCarthy. He addressed the problem through the newest episode of his Weighing In podcast.
Huge John McCarthy Breaks Down Controversial UFC Stoppage
“When Neil’s arm went out and he sort 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 inform you. 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,” Huge 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 occasions the fighters don’t hear the bell.”
Reflecting on the confusion and the aftermath, Huge 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 top of the spherical! Truthfully, it was the suitable factor, however the issue is while you do it, it will possibly 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 struggle seemed to be the right 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.
