Whether it's new camera technology, lighting installations or improvements to internal graphics, the UFC is constantly looking for new ways to improve official event broadcasts.
Well, if the MMA promotion wants to make their worldwide broadcast more accessible in 2025, the UFC production team should pay close attention to the latest offering from a veteran referee.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
John McCarthy points out a major UFC problem and offers his expertise
If you look at network broadcasts from around the sports world, most shows have an in-house expert to give viewers a quick but accurate explanation of the rules and regulations.
Whether that is an explanation of a violation when a violation occurs, or a clarification of when matters become controversial and/or confusing; there is usually always someone there to solve everything.
In the UFC, coach Din Thomas often plays that role; However, there is an argument that the largest MMA promotion in the world should be run with a real referee, rather than an experienced trainer.
With his contract with the PFL coming to an end, legendary official 'Big' John McCarthy is offering his services to fill that spot – even claiming that the UFC “must” address the 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 yes, I could do it with the UFC.
“And I'll be honest, I think this is something that the UFC needs. Too often their commenters aren't sure what's going on or what needs to be done, and that's not their fault.
“Their commentators are there to explain the ins and outs of the fights to the fans. To sit there and expect them to know all the rules, how the referee works and what they need, they can't do that.”
McCarthy did acknowledge that the UFC broadcast still needs coach Din Thomas, especially if they need insights from the corner work; However, there is a significant gap between Thomas's work and what he has to offer.
'I think they need that [coach Thomas]and I'm not saying it's me, but they need someone to absolutely clear things up for the fans if they're in a situation where time has stopped, a mistake has been made or something like that, and the right information provides information about what is happening and where they can go with what happened.”
McCarthy admits that “things aren't looking good” for the new PFL/Bellator
With his PFL contract coming to an end, John McCarthy, after an already incredible career, now finds himself at a crossroads; stay with the #2 global MMA promotion or move on to another role.
“If it goes ahead, great, and if it doesn't, it's all good – good luck to them.”
The PFL may need all the luck they can get as more and more members of their roster are snubbed by the promotion due to a perceived lack of interest in keeping them active with regular shows.
“Watching it from the stands, I'm not so sure that if you're not releasing shows, or at least dates for shows, that's not a good sign for a company,” McCarthy continued.
“Bellator only has one date and that's a show in January, there's some good fights but it's the only one you see, and that's never a good thing… I don't know what's going on with it, but it is never good when that isn't the case [event] dates there.”
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