Comments on: Is it time for Keith Kizer to approve Big John McCarthy back into the fold?

By: hilo

hilo — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:58:17 +0000

Funny after someone leaves, their mistakes are forgotten easier than their triumphs. McCarthy made his share of serious errors too. Bustamante anyone? Broken nose?

By: hilo

hilo — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:51:50 +0000

McCarthy chose to leave on his own and McCarthy needs to file an application like anyone else. But maybe there’s more to this, like the fact that McCarty was on the UFC payroll and only would ref for the UFC and would turn down other organizations when called upon by the Athletic Commsissions. I also recall something about him demanding first class travel and demanding hotel suites.

By: Fluyid

Fluyid — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:12:06 +0000

“Has any athletic commissioner sought out the spotlight more, or done more interviews than Keith Kizer?”

I agree. The guy posts and puts himself out front as if he craves approval from the fans.

By: Jens Habermann

Jens Habermann — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:55:42 +0000

Actually I don’t see the problem with the UFC criticizing referees. It’s the only way to make sure the commission knows about it and starts to improve the refs.

On the other hand I see a big problem with commentators like Joe Rogan doing something like that DURING the boradcast. Remember the Akiyama vs. Belcher fight. I was totally shocked how biased he not only commentated for Belcher but also claimed that Belcher got robbed. THIS should have been a big issue in the press.

The best way to improve the refs is to have them judge more fights. And with every mistake made the commission has more material to educate their judges in the future.

I think for most judges the problem is not to decide wether or not a fight should be stopped but to do this in “the heat of the battle” when thousands of fans start screaming and you’re the one who has to decide if it is enough.

How often are the commentators referring to the “stagefright”. The same applies to the referees and the only way to improve this is to have them judge even more fights.

By: Rob Maysey

Rob Maysey — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:08:37 +0000

The irony of BJM getting criticism for doing interviews and making public comments.

Has any athletic commissioner sought out the spotlight more, or done more interviews than Keith Kizer? Kizer also frequent one particular message board, and posts as well.

By: Steve4192

Steve4192 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:43:00 +0000

I’d love to see Big John back in the Octagon, but he has no one to blame but himself. He needs to get off his butt and apply for license.

For all we know, Kizer might just rubber stamp it and have him working the UFC card. Or he might reject it out of hand. Either way, filing the application will provide him with some idea of what his next step should be. Doing nothing and then whining about it to the press does nothing but make the situation worse.

By: The Gaijin

The Gaijin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:35:21 +0000

Just another case of Dana taking his ball and going home because he doesn’t like someone who stood up for him or doesn’t tow the company line. He’s shown a willingness to patch things up with people that caused far more “Dana drama” so I think they’ll bury the hatchet sometime soon – esp given the state of refereeing. I mean c’mon he can’t with a straight face argue that he wants/is getting better refs than BJM.

As for 45’s inane comments (is anyone really truly surprised? I don’t know why anyone bothers getting riled up by a know Zuffa astroturfing, sycophant who would side with Dana against the 2nd coming of Christ or turn on anyone in a second who dares cross mother Zuffa) – what exactly is their concern/issue with him reffing? It’s two company fighters, how would he possibly have some bias or opposing interest? They already have lots of questionable stoppages and judging decisions. The sole issue I could possibly see and you’d have to be a 9-11 Truther level conspiracy nut, would be if there was some inter-promotional fight they thought he’d sway. And that would destroy his career, name and credibility and probably have him before a grand jury – so I see little in it for him. But I guess it makes for cute and empty arguments like 45 and his ilk.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:39:12 +0000

Yeah, so it is on Big John, then.

I think it is safe to say that it would be great for everybody to see him reffing again.

By: Shane

Shane — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:22:14 +0000

From the linked Sherdog article:

“As it stands, McCarthy does not have a license to officiate in Nevada and has not yet applied for one since leaving his on-air role as analyst for the Fight Network.”

It’s a bit difficult for Kizer to approve McCarthy as a referee if McCarthy hasn’t bothered to re-apply for a licence yet…

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:32:19 +0000

I don’t have a problem with a MMA promotion choosing refs now because right now we’re still in that inbetween stage where because MMA is fairly new we have people signing on to ref who have no idea what they’re doing, so the more those idiots get turned down for work the better. But in a few years I think we’ll weed out the bandwagon refs and others will have enough experience to be good, so it won’t matter.

But, that’s just for refusing to work with them because you don’t like something they did (like Dan Mirgliotta’s actions in the Kimbo-Thompson fight or that one Florida referee who was zoning out on that Fight Night earlier this year.) Their personal opinions holding them back, especially when they were semi-retired from refereeing like John was he made the comments, is absurd. All of the refs are probably big MMA fans who have favorite fighters or have an opinion on who will win the fight going in, they’re not robots. Just because McCarthy said something about a fighter doesn’t mean he’s going to be any more biased in his favor than Mario Yamasaki would be.