Big John McCarthy

Date: 2018-05-16 | Duration: 2h 29m

Episode Overview

Big John McCarthy, the legendary UFC referee who has been the third man in the cage for some of the most iconic fights in MMA history, joins Joe for a nostalgic and technical deep dive into the sport's early days. McCarthy recalls how a single fight secured him his job working with the Gracies and the UFC, discusses refereeing Royce Gracie versus Hickson Gracie weight differences, and breaks down the fine line between protecting fighters and allowing them to show heart. They analyze specific historic bouts, discuss the biomechanics of submissions and why boxing long-term may be more damaging than MMA, debate whether the cage or a ring is safer for fighters, and celebrate the evolution of Bellator as a legitimate second major promotion. McCarthy is a walking encyclopedia of MMA lore.

About Big John McCarthy

Big John McCarthy is a legendary figure in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), renowned for his pivotal role as one of the sport's original referees. With over two decades of officiating experience, he is credited with helping to shape the rules and standards that govern MMA today, making him a key contributor to its evolution and acceptance as a legitimate sport. Beyond his refereeing, McCarthy is also a skilled commentator, author, and co-founder of the popular "Big John McCarthy's Ultimate Training" program. Known for his charismatic personality and deep knowledge of the sport, he provides unique insights into MMA history, making him a compelling guest on Joe Rogan’s podcast, where he shares captivating stories and perspectives from the frontlines of fighting.

Key Moments

– Early UFC and Gracie Family History
– Referee Decision-Making and Fighter Protection
– Submission Mechanics and MMA Technique
– MMA vs Boxing Long-Term Brain Damage
– Bellator MMA Growth
0:00:00 – Big John McCarthy — OG of OGs alongside Royce Gracie
0:16:42 – The one fight that got McCarthy his job with the Gracies
0:33:24 – Hickson Gracie vs Royce — weight, muscle, and reputation
0:49:45 – Pat Miletic's neck fusion and the physical toll of MMA
1:09:01 – The elbow strike — power versus legality debate
2:25:32 – Congratulating McCarthy on his success with Bellator

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 Five, four, three, two, one. Boom, and we're live with the OG of OGs. If there's more of an OG MMA character than you, I don't know who the fuck they would be. Hoist Gracie and you. That's about as OG as it gets, right? You know what that means? What does that mean? You're both fucking old. Starting point is 00:00:21 We're all old. Yeah, we're old. I was watching, the other day was the 20th anniversary of Dan Henderson's first UFC appearance. Oh my God. And there's me interviewing him afterwards. I'm like, who's that fucking little kid interviewing Dan Henderson? Who's Dan Henderson pretending to be Dan Henderson? UFC 12. Starting point is 00:00:36 Yeah. Dothan, Alabama. Well, you got transferred. Yeah. Well, we're supposed to go up to Buffalo. Go down to Dothan. They canceled it out of New York. New York said, get out of here. Starting point is 00:00:47 And we had to take a puddle jumper plane. Remember all that, Jess? Oh, dude, I remember it very well. I was in court. God damn, I knew I was in trouble. Yeah, you were one of the people that I cite all the time for why that stupid reason that the 12 to 6 elbow, you're the one who just explained it to me. Because I couldn't believe that what you're telling me was true. Starting point is 00:01:08 That the reason 12 to 6 elbows were illegal. Well, just tell the story. The truth of the story is back, there's so many stories about rules and how they came about. And, you know, there's guys claiming things and it's like, really? Okay. You know, look, I have paperwork that shows how things came out and at what time it was, and I still have my computers Starting point is 00:01:33 that I have things written on that we went over stuff. You have computers from the 90s? Dude, I still have. No, I've got floppy disk. No, you don't. Swear to God. You do? Unbelievable, isn't it? Starting point is 00:01:42 What do you do with it? Not a damn thing. How much can a floppy disk hold? Not even like a megabyte,...

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Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #10026?

Big John McCarthy was the guest on JRE #10026. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #10026?

On Joe Rogan Experience #10026 with Big John McCarthy, topics include Early UFC and Gracie Family History, Referee Decision-Making and Fighter Protection, Submission Mechanics and MMA Technique, and MMA vs Boxing Long-Term Brain Damage.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #10026?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #10026 with Big John McCarthy is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.