Big John McCarthy Reveals UFC Referee Pay

Longtime MMA referee John McCarthy has pulled back the curtain on how much UFC officials actually earn per event, revealing figures far below what many fans assume.

McCarthy appeared on Ariel Helwani's show following controversy at last weekend's UFC Halloween card, where referee Dan Miragliotta reset a fight to the feet while Renato Moicano held dominant back control against Tom Nolan. Nolan landed a big knee moments after the restart and finished Moicano by TKO in the third round.

What UFC Referees Actually Earn Per Event

When asked about compensation, McCarthy estimated Miragliotta made roughly $1,600 for the entire night. McCarthy then shared his own pay ceiling. "I'll give you the truth, on every fight I ever did in the UFC, the most I ever made was $2000," he said, per MMA Mania. That sum came at UFC 217 in New York in 2017, where he worked two title fights — Rose Namajunas versus Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Michael Bisping versus Georges St-Pierre.

McCarthy noted that numbered pay-per-view cards bring slightly higher fees but rejected the notion that referees prioritize money. He also addressed accusations of corruption tied to the sport's betting boom, saying officials face constant abuse and death threats despite doing their jobs correctly. "They make a little more money now, but that wasn't one of the numbered shows," he said. "But it absolutely has an effect after a while of 'This isn't worth it.'"

McCarthy suggested low pay contributes to the lack of fresh talent entering the officiating pool, though he stopped short of defending Miragliotta's reset decision. The next UFC event airs November 9 on ESPN.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — ‘Big’ John McCarthy reveals truth about UFC referee pay