MMA Referee’s Share Their “Craziest Moments” In The Cage

Referees Big John McCarthy, Herb Dean and Steve Mazzagatti share some of their craziest moments from the cage including two hilarious stories of Bas Rutten and Chael Sonnen.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Referees Big John McCarthy, Herb Dean and Steve Mazzagatti share some of their craziest moments from the cage including two hilarious stories of Bas Rutten and Chael Sonnen.

UFC on FUEL TV 7 Referee Marc Goddard – ‘Ruling The Cage’

Mixed Martial Arts Referee & Former Fighter Marc Goddard stops by to explain why he has a 6th sense when it comes to stopping a fight, why UFC Fighter Matt Riddle recently crossed the line with his criticism in London, how he stays impartial at all times, why referees must train MMA but not necessarily fight MMA, and how integrity and professionalism cannot be taught.

The interview comes via London Real with hosts Brian Rose & Nic Gabriel in the UK.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Mixed Martial Arts Referee & Former Fighter Marc Goddard stops by to explain why he has a 6th sense when it comes to stopping a fight, why UFC Fighter Matt Riddle recently crossed the line with his criticism in London, how he stays impartial at all times, why referees must train MMA but not necessarily fight MMA, and how integrity and professionalism cannot be taught.

The interview comes via London Real with hosts Brian Rose & Nic Gabriel in the UK.

Must Go Mobile And Big John McCarthy Partner With Pacific X-Treme Combat

Pacific X-Treme Combat to launch Big John’s MMA Fight Club app in Guam and the Philippines during PXC-34 on November 17th in Manila Press Release – Lake Elsinore, Calif.—November 17, 2012—Must Go Mobile (MGM), provider of creative, results-driven applications and mobile marketing , announced that the company, along with Big John McCarthy, will partner with […]

Pacific X-Treme Combat to launch Big John’s MMA Fight Club app in Guam and the Philippines during PXC-34 on November 17th in Manila

Press Release – Lake Elsinore, Calif.—November 17, 2012—Must Go Mobile (MGM), provider of creative, results-driven applications and mobile marketing , announced that the company, along with Big John McCarthy, will partner with Pacific X-Treme Combat (PXC) to launch Big John’s MMA Fight Club app in Guam and the Philippines. Big John McCarthy will also serve as referee at the PXC-34 event on November 17 in the Philippines.

Big John’s MMA Fight Club app allows MMA fans around the world to predict the outcome of UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, Invicta and PXC fight matchups. Fans earn virtual dollars that can be used toward the purchase of Big John MMA gear and there will be prizes awarded, through monthly contests and sweepstakes, to the member base. The app is available to iPhone, iPad, iTouch Mobile, Droid and Web users.

Big John, the most well-known, respected referee of the MMA community, provides exclusive commentary along with a new guest celebrity fighter each month. App users can challenge their friends to test their knowledge of the fighters and prediction abilities against both the guest host and each other. Former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Bas Rutten is currently serving as the first guest host for November and December.

PXC-34 will feature two of the top MMA prospects from the Hawaiian Islands against Japanese MMA talent looking to make statements in their PXC debuts. Featherweight, Dustin Kimura and Bantamweight, Russell Doane, will match up with veteran Shooto fighter, Guy Delumeau, and undefeated Michinori Tanaka, respectively, in front of thousands at Araneta Coliseum in Manila, Philippines. PXC-34 will be broadcast live nation-wide in the Philippines and will stream free online for fans around the world via Sherdog. In the Philippines, PXC receives almost 500,000 viewers per event on free-to-air television nation-wide.

“We are extremely excited to be able to bring Big John’s app to Guam and the Philippines and with two PXC fighters being signed to the UFC in the last three months, this partnership seemed like a natural progression,” said Edward J. Calvo, CEO of PXC. “We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship together.”

The cost of the app is $1.99 and users can also enter to win a trip to the fights and meet Big John. More details can be found at www.MMAFightClubApp.com

“Asia is a huge market for the MMA and we are thrilled to be working with PXC so that fans in Asia can take part in challenging their knowledge of MMA,” said Big John McCarthy, MMA referee.

About PXC

Pacific X-treme Combat, also known as PXC, was established in 2004 on the US island

territory of Guam, and since then, has set the pacific region on fire showcasing the highest level of MMA action on a consistent basis. Owned and operated by the Calvo family, PXC is a Tropical Productions company and has produced over 34 professional events and over 30 amateur shows in Guam, where MMA is a mainstream sport. PXC is an exclusive MMA partner of TV5, subsidiary of two of the Philippines’ top mobile companies—SMART and SunCell.

About Must Go Mobile

Must Go Mobile delivers creative solutions that are results-driven for engagement between the mobile world and the companies that strive for a collaborative effort between mobile marketing, application development and consumer engagement. The company brings technology, entertainment, mobile devices and the people who use them together. For more information, please visit www.mustgomobile.com.

Referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy Says Amateur Fighters Need To Be Protected Too

With the recent death of another amateur mixed martial arts fighter this past Saturday in South Carolina, referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy says tragedies like these could be avoided through the use of medicals and blood tests. On Saturday night in an amateur mma bout in Mount Pleasant, SC, Tyone Mimms was competing in the second […]

'Big' John McCarthy

With the recent death of another amateur mixed martial arts fighter this past Saturday in South Carolina, referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy says tragedies like these could be avoided through the use of medicals and blood tests.

On Saturday night in an amateur mma bout in Mount Pleasant, SC, Tyone Mimms was competing in the second bout of the ‘Fight Night at the Point 6′ event, when he collapsed in the locker room following a second round TKO loss to opponent Blake Poore.

Mimms, who was a father of five, was taken to the Medical University Hospital where he died about an hour after passing out.

An autopsy by the Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten provided “no obvious, glaring cause of death.”

Speaking to color commentator Mauro Ranallo on Monday, during a segment of “The MMA Show with Mauro Rannallo,” explained his stance on protecting fighters professional or amateur.

“The UFC has never had a serious injury and that’s because the UFC makes sure all the fighters pass their medicals and have everything else taken care of before they step into the Octagon. They make sure the medicals are up to date, that MRIs are done — the things everyone complains about because they cost money. This is the kind of stuff that could protect Tyrone because he didn’t have medicals, he didn’t have blood tests, none of that was taken care of as an amateur. Amateurs needs to be protected just as much if not more than professionals. Some say they don’t want to take a medical because they don’t get paid, but that’s what will save your life.”

Also featured on Monday’s podcast were Strikeforce women’s fighter Julie Kedzie, Sherdog.com’s Greg Savage, and boxing expert Steve Farhood.

Quote of the Day: Josh Rosenthal Was “Slow on the Trigger” During Munoz/Weidman

(A replay of the Munoz/Weidman ending in all its gory glory for those of you who missed it.) 

Right before he kinda sorta announced his pending retirement from the sport during the UFC on FOUEL TV post-fight show, Stephan Bonnar made the audacious claim that referee Josh Rosenthal should be fined and/or suspended for his late stoppage during the Mark Munoz/Chris Weidman fight. After Weidman landed some 12 or 13 unanswered shots on a helpless Munoz, I briefly thought that we were witnessing the first death in the promotion’s history, and my immediate reaction was almost that of agreement. Almost. 

Because, although it is hard to deny that Rosenthal dropped the ball Wednesday night, the stoppage was likely considered even worse because it was a revered official like Rosenthal who made it. This wasn’t Steve Mazzagati calling an eye poke a TKO or Kim Winslow letting Jan Finney return from the dead only to be killed once more. This was Josh freakin’ Rosenthal, a man who had not only made our top five referees list a couple years ago, but had easily climbed up it a few spots in the time since. This was a man who had, as GritandMettle’s Darren Jensen put it, “reffed Shogun vs Hendo perfectly” — the same goes for his excellent job in the first round of Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin’s UFC 116 heavyweight title fight. What we’re saying is, this isn’t an everyday occurrence for the guy. Hell, can anyone even remember an instance in recent memory that Rosenthal has even come close to screwing up (Faber/Mizugaki maybe)?

In retrospect, Bonnar’s assessment was a little harsh, but Rosenthal was still willing to admit that he shit the bed, so to speak, when he appeared on SiriusXM’s “Tapout Radio Show”.

Check out a few snippets from the interview after the jump.


(A replay of the Munoz/Weidman ending in all its gory glory for those of you who missed it.) 

Right before he kinda sorta announced his pending retirement from the sport during the UFC on FOUEL TV post-fight show, Stephan Bonnar made the audacious claim that referee Josh Rosenthal should be fined and/or suspended for his late stoppage during the Mark Munoz/Chris Weidman fight. After Weidman landed some 12 or 13 unanswered shots on a helpless Munoz, I briefly thought that we were witnessing the first death in the promotion’s history, and my immediate reaction was almost that of agreement. Almost. 

Because, although it is hard to deny that Rosenthal dropped the ball Wednesday night, the stoppage was likely considered even worse because it was a revered official like Rosenthal who made it. This wasn’t Steve Mazzagati calling an eye poke a TKO or Kim Winslow letting Jan Finney return from the dead only to be killed once more. This was Josh freakin’ Rosenthal, a man who had not only made our top five referees list a couple years ago, but had easily climbed up it a few spots in the time since. This was a man who had, as GritandMettle’s Darren Jensen put it, “reffed Shogun vs Hendo perfectly” — the same goes for his excellent job in the first round of Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin’s UFC 116 heavyweight title fight. What we’re saying is, this isn’t an everyday occurrence for the guy. Hell, can anyone even remember an instance in recent memory that Rosenthal has even come close to screwing up (Faber/Mizugaki maybe)?

In retrospect, Bonnar’s assessment was a little harsh, but Rosenthal was still willing to admit that he shit the bed, so to speak, when he appeared on SiriusXM’s “Tapout Radio Show”:

I came home and I watched it, and I was kind of like you know, if I was sitting here, watching this on the couch, I probably would have been talking smack about myself. I always say accountability is a huge part of the sport, and you are accountable for your actions.

As for the stoppage in question, Rosenthal understands that it was a bit on the late side, but is just trying to make sure it never happens again:

 I feel like I was just a little slow on the trigger. I don’t want to see guys take unnecessary punishment. It’s a rough sport. Everyone knows what they sign in for, but it’s a millisecond-basis game. You’re making choices right there on the spot, and in the heat of the moment, I felt like I was seeing some stuff. In hindsight, I have to step my game up and make sure I’m on point for the next guys.

So what do you guys and gals think? Should Rosenthal be punished for failing to save Munoz when he was clearly out? Or does his one misstep pale in comparison to the blunders made by far lesser referees?

J. Jones