FIGHT! Life: "Big" John - Making History

On Nov. 12, 1993, Art Davie and Rorion Gracie introduced American audiences the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a strange contraption called the Octagon, and a sport that would go on to become known as mixed martial arts. The rest is history. "Big" John McCarthy didn't referee any of the fights that night -- that would wouldn't happen until four months later, at UFC 2 -- but he did play a key role in that groundbreaking event: he was the training partner for Royce Gracie, the first UFC champ. In part 2 of this FIGHT! Life series, "Big" John takes us behind the scenes of the night that changed sports history.

Produced and directed by Matthew Ross. Camera: Rick Lee. Assistant Camera: Diego Helguero and Anthony Williams. Edit: Ashley Cahill and Ryan Jackson-Healy. Music: Jacques Brautbar.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• FIGHT! Magazine
• FIGHT! Life
• MMA
• mixed martial arts
• Big
• John
• McCarthy
• UFC
• Ultimate Fighting Championship
• Matthew Ross
• FIGHT MAGAZINE
• FIGHT!
• Life
• FIGHT Life
• Royce Gracie
• UFC 1
• UFC1
• Big John McCarthy

[sirjohnrambo]

I buy FIGHT magazine and subscribed to their youtube videos and I love them both. The only thing I have to bitch about are the fact that all these FIGHT Life videos are in small 2 minutes bits....I would love to watch the whole interview at once. Other than that, great job FIGHT magazine. Too bad you put that punk Koscheck on the cover, sales for this months issue will sufer no doubt lol. Love Don Frye and Jason MIller when they write for you guys...2 of the coolest dudes in

MMA. Get Bas next!

[Madorem]

do herb dean next

[theEdinero]

I remember watching that fight back in the day and thinking "Holy shit, that dude just got his teeth kicked out!" It was brutal but real.

[SektorCyraxSpeedy]

big john should go to hall of fame cuz he work (1 UFC-Present)

[deathsquadforllife]

hes jus a fucking ref, who cares about refs? wow fucking retards

[XbotSlayer]

Big John is the fucking man!!!

[echo1v]

Awesome to hear these stories by the actual people who lived them :)

[evilscotsman88]

foorst!.... Big John is the man!!