Whether it’s new camera technology, lighting rigs, or improvements to the in-house graphics, the UFC is constantly looking for new ways to enhance its official event broadcasts.
Well, if the MMA promotion is looking to make their global broadcast more accessible in 2025, the UFC production team should pay close attention to one veteran referee’s latest offer.
John McCarthy points out major UFC issue and offers his expertise
If you look at network broadcasts from around the sporting world, most shows include an in-house expert to offer viewers a quick-but-accurate explanation as to the rules and regulations.
Whether that’s an explanation of a foul when there’s a violation, or clarification of when things get controversial and/or confusing; there’s typically always someone on hand to break it all down.
For the UFC, coach Din Thomas often plays that role; however, there’s an argument that the biggest MMA promotion in the world should go with an actual referee, rather than a veteran trainer.
Now that his contract with the PFL is coming to an end, legendary official ‘Big’ John McCarthy is offering his services to fill that spot – even claiming that the UFC “needs” to address this issue, and quickly.
“Oh, absolutely [I would do it],” McCarthy said during an interview with MMA Junkie: “I don’t know if the UFC would want me, but yeah, I could do it with the UFC.
“And I’m being honest, I think it’s something the UFC needs. They have too many times that their commentators are unsure about what is going on or what should be done, and that’s not their fault.
“Their commentators are there to explain the ins and outs of fighting to the fans. To sit there and expect them to know all the rules and what the mechanics of the referee is and what they need – they can’t do that.”
McCarthy did acknowledge that the UFC broadcast still needs coach Din Thomas on hand, especially when they need insights from in-round corner work; however, there’s a sizable gap between the work of Thomas, and what he could offer.
“I do think they need [coach Thomas], and I’m not saying it’s me, but they need somebody there to absolutely clear things up for the fans when they are in a situation when the time has been stopped, a foul has occurred, or something like that, and gives the correct information about what’s occurring and where they can go with what has happened.”
McCarthy admits ‘things don’t look good’ for the new-look PFL/Bellator
With his PFL contract coming to an end, John McCarthy, after an already incredible career, is now at a crossroads; stick with the No. 2 global MMA promotion or move on to another role.
“If it continues on, great, and if it doesn’t, no hard feelings it’s all good – the best of luck to them.”
The PFL might need all the luck that they can get, with more and more of their roster coming out to slam the promotion over a perceived lack of interest in keeping them active with regular shows.
“I’m not too sure as I look at it from the bleachers, when you’re not putting out shows, or at least dates for shows, that’s not a good sign for a company,” continued McCarthy.
“Bellator’s got just one date and that’s a show in January, that’s got some good fights on but it’s the only one that you see, and that’s never a good thing… I don’t know what’s going on with it, but it’s never good when there’s not [event] dates out there.”