Ex-referee John McCarthy has reluctantly given Steven Seagal credit for predicting one of the UFC's most famous knockouts
The actor and 7th dan black belt in Aikido tried to take credit when Anderson Silva knocked out Vitor Belfort with a front kick to the face at UFC 126 in February 2013.
Two months later, Lyoto Machida fought Randy Couture at UFC 129 in April 2011.
Amazingly, Machida used the same kick as Silva to KO Couture after Seagal made a bold pre-fight prediction during a backstage chat with McCarthy.
UFC fighter Anderson Silva (center) is congratulated by Steven Seagal (right) after defeating Chael Sonnen in the middleweight title fight at UF…
John McCarthy remembers Steven Seagal's prediction
'Big' John McCarthy recently appeared on the JAXXON podcast alongside ex-UFC star Josh Thomson.
During the show, McCarthy, who retired in 2018, recalled his conversation with Steven Seagal at UFC 129.
The legendary referee would call Jose Aldo's UFC debut against featherweight contender Mark Hominick.
McCarthy went backstage to have a pre-fight conversation with Aldo, but found himself interacting with Seagal, who warned him that Machida was about to score one of the biggest knockouts in UFC history.
“In the back, Lyoto is warming up and Steven Seagal is there,” the 62-year-old recalled.
“And he comes up and says, 'John, Lyoto-san is going to do the same thing. Have you seen Anderson against Vitor Belfort?' I said, 'Yes, Steven, I saw it.' He says, “Lyoto is going to do the same thing to Randy Couture today.”
“I said, 'Well, that was a nice kick that Anderson gave, but it's not easy to achieve. Good luck to him.' And I think to myself, 'Bullsh*t!'
“All of a sudden Lyoto hits that kick and Steven Seagal is all over me: 'I told you so! I told you!'
“I went to Randy Couture afterward and said, 'You son of ab****.' And he asks, 'What?' And I said, 'Do you realize I have to spend the rest of my life saying Steven Seagal called that fight before it ever happened?'
“I had to [tell him]man. And he goes, 'Oh, s***!'”
John McCarthy is open to new UFC role
If you look at network broadcasts from around the sports world, most shows have an in-house expert to provide viewers with a quick but accurate explanation of the rules and regulations.
Whether it's an explanation when a violation occurs, or clarification when things become controversial or confusing, there is usually someone there to explain everything.
For the UFC, coach Din Thomas often plays that role, but there is an argument that the biggest MMA promotion in the world should go with a real referee instead.
Now that his contract with the PFL is up, McCarthy is open to filling that spot for the UFC.
“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 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.
“I'm not saying it's me, but they need someone who will absolutely clear things up for the fans if they're in a situation where time has been stopped, a mistake has been made or something like that, and provide the right information .” about what is happening and where they can go with what happened.”
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