McCarthy On Why White Blocked His UFC Officiating Return

Big John McCarthy has not worked inside the Octagon since 2017 because Dana White effectively banned him after the veteran referee accepted a commentary position with Bellator, McCarthy disclosed in a recent interview.

Speaking to Sherdog, McCarthy confirmed that White made clear the longtime official would no longer be welcome at UFC events following the Bellator hiring. The promotion submitted official preference lists to athletic commissions that excluded his name, McCarthy explained, a practice he defended as within the UFC's rights even as it ended his decades-long relationship with the organization.

How UFC Influences Referee Assignments

McCarthy pushed back on recent characterizations of how officials get assigned to UFC cards, acknowledging that the promotion does submit preferred referee names to state commissions. The UFC provides lists of officials the company feels comfortable working with, he said, which he views as a reasonable business decision rather than improper influence.

The disclosure sheds light on the relationship between promotions and the supposedly independent athletic commissions that regulate MMA. McCarthy, who helped establish modern officiating standards during his UFC tenure, has remained active as a commentator and analyst since his last assignment in the cage seven years ago.

Source: sherdog.com