MMA News

Tag: Big John McCarthy

  • ‘Big’ John McCarthy Responds After Sean O’Malley’s Coach Pleads ‘Excessive Coaching’ Case At UFC 306

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy Responds After Sean O’Malley’s Coach Pleads ‘Excessive Coaching’ Case At UFC 306

    “Big” John McCarthy recently addressed Sean O’Malley’s coach after Tim Welch sought clarification on the controversial excessive coaching incident at UFC 306.

    Dvalishvili secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over “Suga” to capture the bantamweight title at UFC 306 earlier this month. While the outcome was unquestionably clear at the end of the day, the fight took an unusual turn just moments after it began.

    “The Machine” suddenly paused mid-action, gesturing furiously toward his opponent’s corner, prompting referee Herb Dean to step in. Dean reprimanded Dvalishvili for interrupting the match and also gave Welch a warning for overstepping his coaching boundaries, citing the ‘excessive coaching’ rule.

    In the days following the fight, Welch broke his silence on the controversial incident, admitting he did shout at Dvalishvili but claimed he only told him to “be patient.” He also acknowledged that some of his instructions for O’Malley included “The Machine’s” name, brushing it off as merely a case of normal coaching and insisting it had no impact on the outcome of the bout.

    However, veteran referee McCarthy believes Welch’s actions crossed a line and constituted clear misconduct…

    McCarthy Cautions Welch On Interference with Opponents During Fights

    During a recent appearance on the WEIGHING IN podcast, Welch posed a question to McCarthy, asking how he would have handled the situation if a similar incident to UFC 306’s main event unfolded under his watch.

    The renowned MMA referee responded candidly, stating that he would have swiftly issued Welch a stern warning. Furthermore, McCarthy made it clear that if the behavior persisted, he wouldn’t hesitate to eject Welch from the arena in accordance with official refereeing guidelines.

    “I’m being honest, I would have talked to you in the beginning,” McCarthy said. “I would have said, ‘Hey, look, I need you to understand I cannot have you talking to the opponent in any fashion. So when you say ‘Merab, you’ve got to look out,’ even if it’s a call sign for you guys, you’re making it sound like you’re talking to the opponent. So right away, I would have said, ‘Hey, I’m telling you now, stop. We talked about this. If you do it again, I’m going to remove you from this arena,’ which I don’t want to do.”

    “Obviously, that would affect your fighter and everything, so it’s the last thing you want to do. But yeah, it’s right in the rules that you can talk to Sean all you want, and we want you to be able to coach and talk to him and give him good, you know, feedback, but we cannot have you in any fashion talking to the opponent or talking to the referee during the round.”

    Welch also faced significant backlash when footage surfaced from UFC 292 in August 2023, where he allegedly attempted to mislead Aljamain Sterling, trying to lure him into a reckless charge toward O’Malley.

  • ‘Big’ John McCarthy Explains Why Jon Jones Isn’t On MMA Mount Rushmore

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy Explains Why Jon Jones Isn’t On MMA Mount Rushmore

    There is no denying that if you’re listing the names for an MMA Mount Rushmore that is about the most talented and successful fighters we’ve seen in the sport, Jon Jones deserves a spot.

    The current UFC heavyweight champion is arguably the greatest to ever do it but as is always the case with “Bones”, it’s not that simple.

    Some will have reservations about putting Jones on this list due to the various controversies that have clouded his career.

    This means that if you’re looking at MMA Mount Rushmore from the angle of fighters who have had the biggest impact – or if they’ve got a clean disciplinary record – there’s an argument to be made that he misses out.

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy Excludes Jon Jones From Mount Rushmore Due To Various Controversies

    During a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast, veteran referee “Big” John McCarthy explained his approach to this debate.

    He said that he prefers to look at this conversation in regards to impact on the sport rather than actual skill which in turn, makes him leave Jones out of the equation.

    “I look at it different. If you want to say best fighters for Mount Rushmore, the best fighters there ever was, well Jon Jones is on it. If you’re going to say give me an MMA Mount Rushmore, the criteria for it is different than just best fighter and there’s things that, you know, have been done in the past that I go no, I can’t put you on that. Let’s just be honest.”

    McCarthy believes that for all of Jones’ success, his headline-generating antics have had a negative impact on the sport during his career.

    He said that this parameter would also disqualify Conor McGregor, despite the unmatched impact that he has had.

    “I take a look at outside of the sport, Jon hasn’t been the greatest ambassador for the sport. He’s had more controversy than I can give him.”

    Read also: Daniel Cormier On Jon Jones’ Likely Retirement: ‘There Is Work Left To Be Done’ 

  • Dana White Told To Accept Blame For Uneventful UFC 304: ‘You Messed It Up For The People That Work For The Promotion & Some Of The Fighters…’

    Dana White Told To Accept Blame For Uneventful UFC 304: ‘You Messed It Up For The People That Work For The Promotion & Some Of The Fighters…’

    UK fight fans may have been treated to a title fight double header this past weekend in Manchester but UFC 304 didn’t hit expectations.

    There was a lot of disgruntlement from both fans and fighters when it was announced that the event would be taking place at US time, meaning that the night wouldn’t kick off until 11 pm local time at the Co-Op Live arena.

    It was clear to see how it affected the ticket-buyers on the night, with videos of the crowd being literally asleep in their seats during the event.

    This strange schedule will have also impacted the fighters, with Leon Edwards stating inside the Octagon after losing his welterweight title that he felt low on energy all week after training in the middle of the night.

    After Dana White slated the in-Octagon action, which had a run of seven consecutive judges’ decisions, the idea of how much the timings affected the night, was called into question.

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy & Josh Thomson Say UFC Need To Take Some Blame For Time-Related Issues At UFC 304

    On a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast, “Big” John McCarthy and Josh Thomson discussed the impact of UFC 304 taking place at US time despite it being held in England.

    McCarthy said that the UFC – namely Dana White- needs to take some of the blame for why the card didn’t end up delivering due to this decision.

    “When you’re pointing one finger forward, there’s three coming back at you Josh and you got to look at those and you gotta say well, we did put these fighters in a position where they were fighting at 3 o’clock in the morning, 4 o’clock in the morning, 5 o’clock in the morning. No one works out at those times, no one fights at those times. It is an unusual situation and even if you try to prepare for it, it’s odd. It’s just an odd time for you, your body doesn’t feel the same, you don’t feel like you’re on top of things.”

    Thomson went on to add how it wasn’t just the fighters from the UK that would have struggled with the difference in event scheduling.

    He noted how fighters and staff coming from other countries would have also experienced difficulties because they would have needed to sleep throughout the day- even if the actual time wouldn’t be any different for them.

    “You kind of offset both parties by doing this. What happens is when you go to another country and they’re there five days before, some of them get there seven days before, some of the staff, and sometimes that’s not good. But, what I’m saying though is that now you’ve asked them to stay awake during the night so they can be awake during the night.

    “So, the ones that come from the states that work for the UFC, their body clock is trying to change to get adjusted to the UK time when in fact they can’t because their show is at 5 in the morning. Then, the fighters that are there, they’re getting all screwed up because they’re having to fight when they’re normally sleeping. So you really kind of messed up both sides of this equation. You messed it up for the people that work for the promotion and some of the fighters that came over having to fight.”

    Read also: Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’

  • John McCarthy On Ref Marc Goddard Recusing Himself From Officiating Leon Edwards Fights: ‘Claims Don’t Mean S**t, But They’re Going To Make Them!’

    John McCarthy On Ref Marc Goddard Recusing Himself From Officiating Leon Edwards Fights: ‘Claims Don’t Mean S**t, But They’re Going To Make Them!’

    “Big” John McCarthy recently shared his two cents on Marc Goddard’s decision to step down from officiating Leon Edwards’ fights, praising it as a wise and commendable move.

    During a recent interview on the Overdogs Podcast, Goddard delved into the complexities of refereeing MMA fights, particularly how personal relationships with fighters can complicate his role. The veteran referee used Edwards as a prime example, explaining that he will never officiate the reigning UFC welterweight champion bouts.

    Goddard revealed that he was “Rocky’s” first MMA coach and wants to avoid any accusations of bias towards his former tutee, highlighting his commitment to maintaining impartiality.

    The Brit referee has a storied career in MMA, boasting over two decades of experience both officiating and fighting. Goddard is a highly esteemed referee who has officiated numerous marquee bouts in the UFC and other top promotions.

    McCarthy, a titan in the realm of MMA refereeing, hailed Goddard’s decision and offered his own insights on the perspectives of officiating a close friend’s fight…

    McCarthy Endorses Decision to Avoid Officiating a Friend’s Fight

    During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast with former UFC lightweight contender Josh Thomson, McCarthy recounted his encounters with the unique challenges of officiating fights involving fighters with whom he shared close personal bonds, while praising Goddard for his stance.

    “It’s the right decision,” McCarthy said. “The real decision is that you try to take yourself out of situations that can put you into an area where someone can make a claim. And claims don’t mean sh*t, but they’re going to make them.”

    “Big John” revealed that he had a close friendship with MMA legends Royce Gracie and Tim Sylvia, yet found himself officiating their bouts due to commission mandates.

    The former UFC referee admitted he was initially reluctant to oversee those fights but couldn’t decline. He consistently made it a point to inform the commissions and MMA promotion about his camaraderie with the fighters.

    “You have to just be honest and say, ‘Can you be fair?’ You’re always going to get someone who’s gonna say you’re not fair.”

  • ‘Big’ John McCarthy Names The Missing ‘Attribute’ Kevin Holland Needs To Be A Top Five Fighter After Impressive UFC 302 Win

    Kevin Holland returned to the win column this past weekend at UFC 302 with a great finish over MichaÅ‚ Oleksiejczuk.

    After being knocked down inside the first minute, Holland was able to quickly recover and lock up an armbar submission from the bottom.

    From there, the position only got worse for Oleksiejczuk who refused to tap as Holland controlled the arm and spoke to him throughout.

    Gradually realizing that his opponent wasn’t going to give him the win without doing significant damage first, “Big Mouth” dialled up the intensity to force an end to the fight through a technical submission.

    Holland has produced some incredible finishes during his time in the promotion and will always be a fan favorite but he has struggled to compete with the very best.

    McCarthy Questions Whether Kevin Holland Is Mean Enough For Top Level Of MMA

    During a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast, Josh Thomson and “Big” John McCarthy recapped all of the action from UFC 302.

    Both men were impressed by Holland’s display as he once again proved his ability to compete at both welterweight and middleweight.

    However, McCarthy noticed one thing in this fight that could prove to be something that holds Holland back when it comes to competing at the highest level.

    The way he only really put the pressure on the arm of his opponent after it became clear that he wasn’t going to tap was compared to fighters in the past that have tried to take the arm home with them as soon as they got the hold locked in.

    “I’m going to be honest about this, the one attribute he doesn’t have, he’s not mean. He’s not, because I’m telling you right now, Frank Mir had that arm, you know just watching that fight, he’s sat there and he’s kind of like trying to put a little more pressure, a little more pressure like it is training and kind of looks up (at the referee) like ‘Hey!’ and finally says ‘Okay, I’m gonna have to do this, I’m sorry’ and puts it under his arm.

    “All I’m telling you is Frank Mir, dude as soon as he grabbed that arm, he’s trying to take it off of your body. Carlos Condit, he’s trying to take it off your body. Josh Barnett, he’s trying to take it off your body. He wants to take that thing, pull it off your body and smack you in the head with it.”     

  • ‘If I Lose This, Will They Cut Me?’ – Kevin Holland Warned Against Negative Thought Process As He Looks To Bounce Back From Two Fight Skid At UFC 302

    ‘If I Lose This, Will They Cut Me?’ – Kevin Holland Warned Against Negative Thought Process As He Looks To Bounce Back From Two Fight Skid At UFC 302

    Kevin Holland will face Michal Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302 right before the five-round co-main event between Paulo Costa and Sean Strickland. 

    Many, including Weighing In hosts John McCarthy and Josh Thompson, believe that this fight is important for Holland to reassure the UFC about his prowess as a title contender and that he’s not just a gatekeeper in the welterweight division. 

    Although Holland is on a two-fight losing streak, this isn’t the first time he’s been in this situation. In the UFC, he’s previously lost consecutively to Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori but came back with a KO win over Alex Oliviera. 

    Then, he again lost two fights in a row against Khamzat Chimaev and Stephen Thompson, but returned with a KO win over Santiago Ponzinibbio.

    Ahead of UFC 302, Holland finds himself in a similar situation as he’s lost to Jack Della Maddalena and Michael Venom Page, and here’s what the Weighing In podcast hosts believe he should do to bounce back. 

    John McCarthy Claims Kevin Holland Is A ‘Problem For Everyone’

    While discussing the UFC 302 card on his podcast, “Big” John McCarthy had all the praise for Holland,who is easily one of the most active fighters in the UFC roster. 

    McCarthy agreed that Holland is tough and can create problems for anyone inside the Octagon, and that “MVP” wasn’t an ideal matchup for him in many ways. 

    “Kevin Holland, he’s a problem for everyone. He’s in that position. Against MVP, I thought he would end up having a problem and everyone does, because they don’t realize how fast Michal is. 

    “Oleksiejczuk, I love the guy. He’s tough as hell. He is just a grinding monster. I don’t think he can beat Kevin Holland”

    While McCarthy seemed confident about Holland being the better fighter, Thomson was more concerned about the impact of a losing streak on a fighter. The former UFC fighter explained how each loss adds to the mental burden and even someone like Holland could be affected by it.  

    “Losing to Jack Della Maddalena and ‘MVP.’ Now you’re fighting another guy who’s got a good chin, who likes to put the pressure. But one of my points is, though, that two losses in a row, you start thinking, ‘I’ve never lost three in a row. If I lose this, will they cut me?’ Those are the things that start going through your mind.

    “In a fighter’s mind, you’re thinking to yourself. Three in a row, man, after three, it could be four, and then you really start thinking.”

    Both Thomson and McCarthy then agreed on the fact that the UFC is unlikely to cut Holland even if he loses to Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302 – something we can likely all agree on too.