Tag: Big John McCarthy

Interview: “Big” John McCarthy Talks His New Book, Dana White and Fighters Crapping Themselves

By Jason Moles

Somewhere in the back your mind is a Mt. Rushmore of MMA, one for fighter and one for non-fighters. On the latter, you’d undoubtedly have Dana White in addition to your pick of Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr., Bruce Buffer, or Joe Rogan. However, you only get to pick two of the guys I’ve listed because the second spot on the mountain is reserved for the most recognized referee in all of MMA, “Big” John McCarthy.

No one has had a bigger impact on the sport of mixed martial arts without having actually fought someone or having the last name of Fertita or White. Few have stepped inside the Octagon more times than McCarthy and almost no one has helped grow the sport from birth to the dark ages and into the mainstream arena that it is in today. And you thought he just asked the fighters if they were ready and raised the winner’s hand?

“Big” John McCarthy was kind enough to sit down with CagePotato recently to discuss his new book ‘Let’s Get It On!‘ which can be purchased on Amazon. The book is 50% MMA history lesson, 50% autobiography, and 100% worth every penny spent to own a copy and every minute spent reading. So, without further adieu, let’s get it on!

By Jason Moles

Somewhere in the back your mind is a Mt. Rushmore of MMA, one for fighter and one for non-fighters. On the latter, you’d undoubtedly have Dana White in addition to your pick of Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr., Bruce Buffer, or Joe Rogan. However, you only get to pick two of the guys I’ve listed because the second spot on the mountain is reserved for the most recognized referee in all of MMA, “Big” John McCarthy.

No one has had a bigger impact on the sport of mixed martial arts without having actually fought someone or having the last name of Fertita or White. Few have stepped inside the Octagon more times than McCarthy and almost no one has helped grow the sport from birth to the dark ages and into the mainstream arena that it is in today. And you thought he just asked the fighters if they were ready and raised the winner’s hand?

“Big” John McCarthy was kind enough to sit down with CagePotato recently to discuss his new book ‘Let’s Get It On!‘ which can be purchased as of yesterday on Amazon. The book is 50% MMA history lesson, 50% autobiography, and 100% worth every penny spent to own a copy and every minute spent reading. So, without further ado, let’s get it on!

 

CagePotato: Can you tell us how you got the nickname “Big”? Was someone you know a big fan of Big John Stud or something?

Big John McCarthy: (Laughing) No, you know what – my mother used to call me that for a while but Art Davie is the one that put that out there. There was an incident where I was joking around with him and I picked him up over my head. He started screaming. “Big John put me down!” From that point he always called me that and people just got used to it so it stuck.

 

CP: Why did you decide to write this book? Was it because you wanted to share the history of the UFC?

BJM: It was exactly that. You know if it weren’t for Loretta Hunt bugging me to death about writing the book it never would have been written. The one thing she told me that really convinced me to go ahead with this is that there is a huge history within the sport of MMA that people don’t know. There are a lot of things that have gone on, and basically people look at MMA from the year 2005 when The Ultimate Fighter series came out and think that’s how it all got started. But there’s a lot of people that deserve credit for getting it to that point.

Lorenzo Fertita – I think he deserves a ton of credit. He really put his money where his mouth is and took on a lot of personal debt to help see this thing survive and get people to buy into MMA. At $40 million in debt he still kept going.

Bob Meyrowitz – He did much of the same thing – invested a lot of his own money. He kept trying to keep this thing going even though he wasn’t making any money.

Jeff Blatnick – This is a guy people need to know about. The sport borrowed his credibility, he was an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling and came to UFC 4 and fell in love with MMA.

There are a ton of people who helped get the sport where it is today — some at the beginning, others at the end — that people just don’t know about. That’s why I decided to write the book.

CP: You copyrighted your catchphrase “Let’s get it on!” much in the same way that Michael and Bruce Buffer did with “Let’s get ready to rumble!” and “It’s time!” respectively. Was that really necessary and have you ever had to pursue legal action against someone using your phrase without permission?

BJM: Is it necessary? I don’t think so. It’s one of those things where people force you into things because they want to take part in something, or be part of something. It forces you into doing something – but have I ever sued anyone? No. I’ve told people, “Hey, don’t do that.” That’s something I have to do to keep this thing copyrighted. I know Michael has sued people over using his line and won because you can’t do it without permission, but no, I’ve never done that.

CP: You followed in your dad’s footsteps and joined the LAPD at a young age. With such a busy career nabbing bad guys, how did you get involved with the UFC?

BJM: I got involved in the UFC because of the association I had with Rorion Gracie. I started working out with the Gracie’s before there was a UFC and when it came about, I was Royce’s sparring partner for the fights getting him ready and then it was the very first fight in the UFC between Gerard Gordeau and Teila Tuli that got me the position to be the referee. It was supposed to be that the referee could not stop the fight; the fighter was to tap out or the corner was to throw in the towel. Well then Tuli gets kicked in the mouth and punched in the face and he’s down. Then [referee] Joao [Alberto Barreto] came in and stopped it and said he couldn’t continue fighting. Then there was a conference of sorts between the Joao and Rorion who was upset because he didn’t want refs stopping fights. That’s how I got my job, because you have to have compassion for another person and they needed a steady guy.

CP: Alright, I have to ask and I’m crossing my fingers hoping you’ll tell me. Which fighter crapped themselves and who did you tell to go back to the locker room and take a shower?

BJM: You know what? That’s gonna stay with me. I’m sorry but I owe it to the fighters not to do that to them. As I was doing the book, I did not want to infringe upon the relationships I had with fighters or put them in a position where they felt like they couldn’t trust me. Stuff happens all the time in fights and back in the locker room and it’s embarrassing for that person. If they want to share it, they can share it, but I’m not gonna.

CP: Of all the people you’ve met, who are you the most grateful for knowing? Who do you wish you never met?

BJM: (Laughing heartily) Oh wow! You know I don’t think I could put one person down that I’m most grateful for knowing. There are several people who have been in the martial arts for a long time that I take great pride in the fact that I know them and I respect everything they’ve done in the martial arts.

Helio Gracie is somebody I felt honored to meet, spend time with and roll with. To me, he’s an incredible man who lived an incredible life and did incredible things. So that’s a special person on my list.

Chuck Norris is someone else; Chuck Norris is the real deal at everything he does in life. The way he’s gone about representing the martial arts throughout his life is something that I hold in high esteem. Another person that I just love as a human being is Gene LeBell. He’s been a friend of mine for a long time. Gene’s a super tough guy, but one of the nicest and most generous guy you’ll ever find.

When it comes to people I don’t like, I don’t worry about those things. That’s not what life’s about. If you know someone who you don’t like or they don’t treat you right, just move on.

CP: During the Tito Ortiz – Ken Shamrock feud, you detail an incident that occurred at a weigh-in where Ken threw a chair at Tito only to have it snatched out of the air by Dana White. You made the remark that it was a pretty good catch for a guy who didn’t know it was coming. Are you implying that White staged the altercation or am I just reading into it?

BJM: Yeah, it was awesome! No, he didn’t know it was coming; you’re reading into it. Dana didn’t know Ken was going to kick that chair and he caught it without ever expressing surprise. I mean, Ken stepped back and kicked that chair and it popped up and Dana stuck his hand out and grabbed ahold of it. It was a moment I thought was very funny and I thought he handled it very well.

CP: I guess Shamrock wasn’t training kicks with Steven Seagal or else that chair would’ve hit the mark.

BJM: HAHAHA! You’re probably right!

 CP: Speaking of staged events, you’ve seen a few fixed fights over the years. Have you seen any recently, UFC or otherwise?

BJM: No – I want to make it clear to people when they hear that. There have been promotions that have put out fake fights. It’s what we call a work. It’s wrong and it should never happen. The UFC has never done that. When it did happen in the UFC, it was early on because we had tournaments where the two guys fighting were managed by the same guy. He’d say, “This guy has a very good chance of winning it and this guy doesn’t so I want him to throw the fight.” That’s when it happened. The first one I put in the book was Oleg Taktarov vs. Anthony Macias; they both had the same manager named Buddy Albin. Buddy’s the one that put them up to it and the UFC had no idea. When it happened I went to the owner, Bob Meyrowitz, and told him that [Macias] threw that fight and gave up on purpose and that he had no intention of fighting.

CP: What does C.O.M.M.A.N.D. stand for and what should fans know about it?

BJM: Certification of Officials of Mixed Martial Arts National Development. Our goal is to bring awareness to both judges and referees as far as the way the sport of MMA is evolving and what they should know about it. If they’re a judge, the way they should look at it to credit fighters for good technique. We want them to know what it looks like if a fighter’s stalling a fight. The main thing is to get everyone involved in the officiating process to be looking at things the same way and doing things the same way. We want everyone in everywhere to be on the same page because it’s good for the fighters; it’s good for the promoters; it’s good for the fans, and everyone gets accustomed to seeing the same thing. We want fights officiated and judged with consistency across the board.

CP: It’s been well documented that you and Zuffa/Dana White had a falling out a few years back. How are things now between you and the UFC and why did you feel compelled to accept full responsibility for all that transpired?

BJM: Life is about learning from your experiences. Some things you do are good or bad, or they work for you or they don’t. If I do something, I’m going to take responsibility for it. I’m not going to dwell on the past, nor do I harbor any ill feelings towards Dana White at all. If he’s gonna have hard feelings towards me, then that’s him and that’s the way it will be; it’s up to him. But I don’t think I’ve done anything bad towards Dana. I absolutely respect everything he’s done in this sport and I that he helped build and take this sport to the mainstream forefront. I love the UFC and all the fights they put on and if I’m not refereeing the fights, I’m watching them.

CP: Some fans may not know, but you helped write the first rules in the early days of the UFC and later went on to help draft the Unified Rules as well. What, if any, rules do you wish were added or done away with altogether?

BJM: HAHAHA! You know there’s rules that I don’t like or that I know are there but aren’t really doing a lot but you know what? They’re not going to change. The athletic commission is a government body and they’re going to look at a rule that’s been around for basically twelve years and find that in those twelve years it’s been working for them, we haven’t had any problems with it, so why change it?

That’s understandable because if you change something then somebody gets hurt because the rule was changed then you’re looking at a liability issue, which means someone could go and sue the state because the rule was changed which led to them getting hurt. I’m not saying it would happen, just that it could. I don’t see the rules changing much. There’s nothing really to add or take away and the ones we’ve got are working.

CP: What has been the scariest moment you experienced in the cage?

BJM: I haven’t really had any scary moments. Let’s break it down into fighting: The scariest thing that can happen in fighting, if you understand fighting and injuries, is the thing you don’t see and that is concussions. You see a guy get knocked out and the fans say,”Ohh, he’s knocked out,” or whatever, but when that happens it can have a lasting effect on someone. Concussions and brain trauma are the scariest things that can happen and it’s what I worry about the most.

*** There you have it, the one and only “Big” John McCarthy, ladies and gents. I seriously recommend you buy yourself an early Christmas present and get this book. In my opinion, it’s the best MMA book since ‘Blood in the Cage‘. ***

Reminder: ‘Big’ John McCarthy’s Book Comes Out On Thursday and You Should Buy It

(Video Courtesy of Patrick Kennedy)

Whether you’re interested in some fascinating firsthand accounts of the behind the scenes goings on in the early days of the UFC and the origins of some of MMA’s rules and regulations or you simply want to get to know one of the most important MMA figureheads the sport has ever known, you need to pick up a copy of “Big” John McCarthy’s “Let’s Get It On! The Making of MMA and Its Ultimate Referee.”

The biographical account of McCarthy’s life as a son, brother, father, husband, police officer, coach and referee was co-written by acclaimed MMA reporter and the author of Randy Couture’s book, “Becoming the Natural: My Life In and Out of the Cage,” Loretta Hunt,  and has been lauded by several members of the MMA media as one of 2012’s must-read books for fans of the sport.

Loretta will be our special guest on this week’s episode of The Bum Rush Radio Show on Friday to talk about the book and we’ll have a review of the tome on the site next week.


(Video Courtesy of Patrick Kennedy)

Whether you’re interested in some fascinating firsthand accounts of the behind the scenes goings on in the early days of the UFC and the origins of some of MMA’s rules and regulations or you simply want to get to know one of the most important MMA figureheads the sport has ever known, you need to pick up a copy of “Big” John McCarthy’s “Let’s Get It On! The Making of MMA and Its Ultimate Referee.”

The biographical account of McCarthy’s life as a son, brother, father, husband, police officer, coach and referee was co-written by acclaimed MMA reporter and the author of Randy Couture’s book, “Becoming the Natural: My Life In and Out of the Cage,” Loretta Hunt,  and has been lauded by several members of the MMA media as one of 2012′s must-read books for fans of the sport.

Loretta will be our special guest on this week’s episode of The Bum Rush Radio Show on Friday to talk about the book and we’ll have a review of the tome on the site next week.

The pair will begin a book tour starting on September 15 that will span from New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles in the U.S. and Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa in Canada.

For more info on the book or to pick up a copy, click HERE.

Let’s Get It On! Book Tour Schedule

9/15: B&N, Tribeca (NYC)

9/16: Book Ends (NJ)

9/25: Indigo Rideau (Ottawa)

9/26: Indigo Eaton Centre (Toronto)

9/27: Indigo Place Montréal Trust (Montréal)

10/21: Book Soup (Los Angeles)

10/23: B&N, Pico Westwood (Los Angeles)

10/26: Glendale Public Library (Los Angeles)

Six Likely Candidates for MMA Fighter Union President

“My thoughts concerning the state of Wisconsin repealing the collective bargaining rights of public employees? I’m glad you asked…”

Several recent, seemingly unrelated news stories in the MMA world have shared a common theme- unions. It’s the lobbying efforts of one union, Dana White insists, to blame for the UFC’s failure to gain a foothold in New York. And some pessimists credit a fear of unionized fighters–more than simple altruism–for Zuffa’s decision to provide accident insurance for its fighters. With all of the talk about a potential MMA Fighters Union, we took a moment to ponder who’s likely to throw their hat in the ring for union president…

“My thoughts concerning the state of Wisconsin repealing the collective bargaining rights of public employees? I’m glad you asked…”

Several recent, seemingly unrelated news stories in the MMA world have shared a common theme- unions. It’s the lobbying efforts of one union, Dana White insists, to blame for the UFC’s failure to gain a foothold in New York. And some pessimists credit a fear of unionized fighters–more than simple altruism–for Zuffa’s decision to provide accident insurance for its fighters. With all of the talk about a potential MMA Fighters Union, we took a moment to ponder who’s likely to throw their hat in the ring for union president…

Frank Shamrock: If you want to know what role “The Legend” has played in the history of our sport, just ask him. Never one to shy away from an opportunity to self-promote, Shamrock has been fighting for his relevancy in the sport ever since he departed from the UFC. His verbal battles with Dana are legendary, even prompting him to start a pseudo non-profit organization to call him out- that’s a devotion to hatred I can only hope to know. As a self-proclaimed champion of the downtrodden and sworn enemy of the Zuffa regime, Shamrock’s role as kingpin in a fighter union would finally balance the scales of power in his rivalry and allow him to resume his long-abandoned place at the top of the fighter chain.

Big John McCarthy: Fighter safety was little more than an oxymoron when Big John started officiating. Since those early days he’s played a leading role in looking out for the folks that put it all on the line. Outside of the cage, he lobbied to make sure that the Unified Rules were fair to fighters and fans alike. It’s no secret that Dana has had a grudge against him, which coincided perfectly with his inability to get re-licensed in Nevada.  Big John has found several ways to earn an income in the sport without donning latex gloves, including running his own gym and serving as a analyst on The Fight Network, so maybe an opportunity to protect fighters in a new capacity would be of interest to him as well.

Chael Sonnen: What is there to explain, really? The guy has an addiction to corruption. He’s shown a clear desire to hold office, but remarkably proved too shady for a job in politics.  Chael is never afraid to take the bully pulpit and hammer out a firm stance on a controversial topic, and when pinned down to a losing position he’s willing to say whatever is necessary to weasel his way out the hole he’s dug. He’s no stranger to cutting corners and skimming money from the top, which makes him a natural to head up a union. If he was willing to involve his mother in a real estate scheme, there’s little doubt he’d throw his “Uncle Dana” under the bus for a quick buck. Unless he seriously considers ditching a couple of his more nefarious personalities, he’s unlikely to glove up for awhile, and with his numerous other careers on hold this seems like a perfect fit for his unique set of morals.

Randy Couture: A true icon of the sport, “The Natural” has been involved in many of the UFC’s most memorable fights both inside the Octagon and inside the courtroom. Together they’ve made a lot of money, but following multiple break ups they’ve always seemed more reluctant bedfellows than chummy business partners. We’re only a few weeks into his latest retirement and Couture is already investing in new MMA ventures. With a stable of fighters at his side and as an obvious leader in our community he could no doubt foster support for a union throughout its ranks. He was willing to fight Zuffa in court to gain freedom from what he considered to be an unfair contract, and was very vocal about what he considered to be a lack of appropriately large paydays; maybe the time has come for him to walk that road once more.

Tito Ortiz: Even when it seemed suspiciously like he was simply looking out for himself, Tito always made it clear that he was actually fighting Dana White for every fighter’s rights. With his career in the UFC teetering on extinction, even Tito must realize his days as a fighter are numbered. He’s talked about the need for a fighter’s union—and his desire to run it–for years now, and with no other organization able to afford his hefty price tag his options will be limited. So what characteristics would you look for in a fighter union president? Eloquence? Check. Strong business acumen? Check. A trustworthy circle of friends to form his cabinet? Check.

BJ Penn: With the many turns that his career has taken, it’s clear that he’s unlikely to achieve the ambitious title of “greatest fighter to ever live”, and that may be a tough pill to swallow for a megalomaniac like Penn. Throughout his entire career, BJ has sought to dictate the terms. When Joe Rogan attempts to get his thoughts after the fight, he directs you to go to BJPenn.com to get his take. Before conducting an interview with him, you have to confirm that you do indeed like him very much. He even sued the UFC after vacating his belt to stop them from crowning a new champion. Penn is already a legend in this sport, but if he wants to rise to demigod status with the rest of the fight world serving as loyal subjects, this is his best shot.

– Chris Colemon

Randy Couture’s Pursuits Outside of the UFC to Include Specialty Combat Sports TV Channel Owner


(Is there anything Randy can’t do? No wonder he’s Joe Rogan’s hero)

When Randy Couture announced he would be retiring from MMA after his UFC 129 loss to Lyoto Machida, speculation about what “The Natural” would do next quickly began. Some guessed that Couture would be involved in initiating a fighters union while others hypothesized that the UFC Hall-of-Famer would be offered a job similar to the one bestowed upon Chuck Liddell after “The Iceman” called it a career last year.

MMAPayout is reporting that Couture, who wasted little time in diversifying his post-retirement portfolio is now a minority owner of the new Fight Now! TV combat sports-themed television network and will be involved with the specialty channel to an unknown degree moving forward.


(Is there anything Randy can’t do? No wonder he’s Joe Rogan’s hero)

When Randy Couture announced he would be retiring from MMA after his UFC 129 loss to Lyoto Machida, speculation about what “The Natural” would do next quickly began. Some guessed that Couture would be involved in initiating a fighters union while others hypothesized that the UFC Hall-of-Famer would be offered a job similar to the one bestowed upon Chuck Liddell after “The Iceman” called it a career last year.

MMAPayout is reporting that Couture, who wasted little time in diversifying his post-retirement portfolio is now a minority owner of the new Fight Now! TV combat sports-themed television network and will be involved with the specialty channel to an unknown degree moving forward.

I spoke with someone I know who is involved with the start-up station a few months back and he indicated at the time that Randy was attached to the project, but didn’t indicate to what degree.

The network is actually the brainchild of the founder of The Fight Network, Mike Garrow and is backed by Channel Zero, an independent Canadian broadcasting and media group whose properties include several specialty movie and XXX channels. Both Couture, who worked at the station during his first short-lived retirement and ‘Big’ John McCarthy were on-air analysts with The Fight Network.

There’s no word as to what programming will be licensed to the channel, but Garrow helped secure multiple contracts to air PRIDE, K-1, Affliction and Bodog events while with TFN, so there is a good chance he’ll follow suit with his latest project.

According to the MMAPayout story, the first cable service to offer the channel will be Cablevision in New York who will start carrying Fight Now! TV on May 24. The report quotes a story from the Sports Business Journal that states that, like its predecessor, Fight Now! “will include all combat sports — including boxing and wrestling — but will focus on mixed martial arts”

The SBJ story states that the offices of the station will be based out of New York, but from what I’ve heard they will have two offices — one in Las Vegas and one in Toronto.

Randy Couture’s Pursuits Outside of the UFC to Include Specialty Combat Sports TV Channel Owner


(Is there anything Randy can’t do? No wonder he’s Joe Rogan’s hero)

When Randy Couture announced he would be retiring from MMA after his UFC 129 loss to Lyoto Machida, speculation about what “The Natural” would do next quickly began. Some guessed that Couture would be involved in initiating a fighters union while others hypothesized that the UFC Hall-of-Famer would be offered a job similar to the one bestowed upon Chuck Liddell after “The Iceman” called it a career last year.

MMAPayout is reporting that Couture, who wasted little time in diversifying his post-retirement portfolio is now a minority owner of the new Fight Now! TV combat sports-themed television network and will be involved with the specialty channel to an unknown degree moving forward.


(Is there anything Randy can’t do? No wonder he’s Joe Rogan’s hero)

When Randy Couture announced he would be retiring from MMA after his UFC 129 loss to Lyoto Machida, speculation about what “The Natural” would do next quickly began. Some guessed that Couture would be involved in initiating a fighters union while others hypothesized that the UFC Hall-of-Famer would be offered a job similar to the one bestowed upon Chuck Liddell after “The Iceman” called it a career last year.

MMAPayout is reporting that Couture, who wasted little time in diversifying his post-retirement portfolio is now a minority owner of the new Fight Now! TV combat sports-themed television network and will be involved with the specialty channel to an unknown degree moving forward.

I spoke with someone I know who is involved with the start-up station a few months back and he indicated at the time that Randy was attached to the project, but didn’t indicate to what degree.

The network is actually the brainchild of the founder of The Fight Network, Mike Garrow and is backed by Channel Zero, an independent Canadian broadcasting and media group whose properties include several specialty movie and XXX channels. Both Couture, who worked at the station during his first short-lived retirement and ‘Big’ John McCarthy were on-air analysts with The Fight Network.

There’s no word as to what programming will be licensed to the channel, but Garrow helped secure multiple contracts to air PRIDE, K-1, Affliction and Bodog events while with TFN, so there is a good chance he’ll follow suit with his latest project.

According to the MMAPayout story, the first cable service to offer the channel will be Cablevision in New York who will start carrying Fight Now! TV on May 24. The report quotes a story from the Sports Business Journal that states that, like its predecessor, Fight Now! “will include all combat sports — including boxing and wrestling — but will focus on mixed martial arts”

The SBJ story states that the offices of the station will be based out of New York, but from what I’ve heard they will have two offices — one in Las Vegas and one in Toronto.

Randy Couture’s Pursuits Outside of the UFC to Include Specialty Combat Sports TV Channel Owner


(Is there anything Randy can’t do? No wonder he’s Joe Rogan’s hero)

When Randy Couture announced he would be retiring from MMA after his UFC 129 loss to Lyoto Machida, speculation about what “The Natural” would do next quickly began. Some guessed that Couture would be involved in initiating a fighters union while others hypothesized that the UFC Hall-of-Famer would be offered a job similar to the one bestowed upon Chuck Liddell after “The Iceman” called it a career last year.

MMAPayout is reporting that Couture, who wasted little time in diversifying his post-retirement portfolio is now a minority owner of the new Fight Now! TV combat sports-themed television network and will be involved with the specialty channel to an unknown degree moving forward.


(Is there anything Randy can’t do? No wonder he’s Joe Rogan’s hero)

When Randy Couture announced he would be retiring from MMA after his UFC 129 loss to Lyoto Machida, speculation about what “The Natural” would do next quickly began. Some guessed that Couture would be involved in initiating a fighters union while others hypothesized that the UFC Hall-of-Famer would be offered a job similar to the one bestowed upon Chuck Liddell after “The Iceman” called it a career last year.

MMAPayout is reporting that Couture, who wasted little time in diversifying his post-retirement portfolio is now a minority owner of the new Fight Now! TV combat sports-themed television network and will be involved with the specialty channel to an unknown degree moving forward.

I spoke with someone I know who is involved with the start-up station a few months back and he indicated at the time that Randy was attached to the project, but didn’t indicate to what degree.

The network is actually the brainchild of the founder of The Fight Network, Mike Garrow and is backed by Channel Zero, an independent Canadian broadcasting and media group whose properties include several specialty movie and XXX channels. Both Couture, who worked at the station during his first short-lived retirement and ‘Big’ John McCarthy were on-air analysts with The Fight Network.

There’s no word as to what programming will be licensed to the channel, but Garrow helped secure multiple contracts to air PRIDE, K-1, Affliction and Bodog events while with TFN, so there is a good chance he’ll follow suit with his latest project.

According to the MMAPayout story, the first cable service to offer the channel will be Cablevision in New York who will start carrying Fight Now! TV on May 24. The report quotes a story from the Sports Business Journal that states that, like its predecessor, Fight Now! “will include all combat sports — including boxing and wrestling — but will focus on mixed martial arts”

The SBJ story states that the offices of the station will be based out of New York, but from what I’ve heard they will have two offices — one in Las Vegas and one in Toronto.