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  - BIG JOHN RETURNS AT UFC ON VERSUS 2
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - by Ken Pishna - MMAWeekly.com
A mixed martial arts referee typically makes headlines only when something goes awry in a fight: a botched stoppage, a missed call, a fighter taking too much punishment... or not enough.
“Big John” McCarthy, however, is getting noticed because he is on tap to referee his first UFC bout in more than two and a half years when he steps in the Octagon at Sunday’s UFC on Versus 2 in San Diego.
The California State Athletic Commission confirmed that McCarthy would be officiating at this weekend’s event, alongside Herb Dean and Jason Herzog. None of the referees have been assigned to specific bouts as of the time of publication.
McCarthy is the original mixed martial arts referee, starting his career with UFC 2 in 1994. He oversaw the majority of the promotion’s main bouts until leaving refereeing behind following the Roger Huerta vs. Clay Guida main event at “The Ultimate Fighter Season 6” finale in December 2007.
He then took a position as an analyst for The Fight Network for a short time and started a referees and judges training program. He returned to officiating at a Strikeforce event in late 2008.
McCarthy has frequently been the third man in the cage in California and other locations since that time, but has been noticeably absent overseeing fights in Nevada, the UFC’s home base of operations.
Keith Kizer, Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, told MMAWeekly.com that McCarthy has filed an application to regain licensure in the state, along with “about 30 other applicants,” but said there are currently no openings.
“When there is an opening, the commissioners and I will review the applications and put someone on the agenda for consideration,” he added.
For now, longtime UFC fans will once again see “Big John” presiding over bouts in the Octagon at UFC on Versus 2 in San Diego.
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