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[ LET'S GET IT ON!: THE MAKING OF MMA AND ITS ULTIMATE REFEREE ] By McCarthy, "Big" John ( Author) 2011 [ Hardcover ]
An intimate profile of the legendary mixed martial arts (MMA) referee, this first full-length autobiography of pop culture icon “Big” John McCarthy details every aspect of his life-from his strong-handed Los Angeles upbringing to his involvement in the naming of the sport, his role in its regulation, and MMA’s rise in stature. The narrative follows “Big” John through his 22-year career as a Los Angeles police officer, where he taught recruits arrest and control procedures as well as survival tactics, then his 15-year career as MMA’s premier official in the chain-linked cage. A fixture of the sport, “Big” John started refereeing at UFC 2 in 1994 when MMA was in its infancy and went on to officiate at every major UFC event but two until 2007. Following a one-year hiatus as a color commentator and on-camera analyst for MMA and boxing events, he returned to MMA refereeing in 2008. In his own words, "Big" John relates his insider’s perspective from the midst of many of the sport’s greatest moments-from Tito Ortiz–Ken Shamrock I at UFC 40 in 2002 to Randy Couture–Tim Sylvia at UFC 68 in March of 2007-along with his account of the birth of the sport in America, its evolution, and MMA’s ongoing struggles for acceptance.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
15 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
"Big" John McCarthy
1 book3 followersJohn Michael McCarthy, (born October 12, 1962, Los Angeles, California, United States) is the first head referee for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a retired Los Angeles Police Officer, and a Tactical Self-Defense Instructor at the Los Angeles Police Academy. He has served as head referee for hundreds of bouts in major MMA promotions dating back to 1993. He is also the founder of C.O.M.M.A.N.D., the training and certification school for MMA referees and judges.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 12, 2021
Excellent book. I have always had a great a great deal of respect for John McCarthy as a referee. This book has only enhanced my opinion of him professionally and personally. Now only was John one of the first MMA referees, but after reading this book as a reader I found out how instrumental he was in making MMA and especially the UFC what it is today.
I have heard quotes form people saving that the reason John was so good at his job is because you did not notice him in the Octagon till the time he was needed. He writes the book the same way he puts emphasis on the fact that the fighter are the one doing the hard work as a referee he is in there to protect the fighters when they cannot protect themselves. Another great thing is the way he manages to humanize the fighters themselves. He talks about the emotions of different fighters before, during and after a fight. There ecstasy in victory and the crushing raw emotion of disappointment when they lose.
The book starts with John giving his family history. He starts with his grandfather, then his father and his career and innovations in the police force in terms of training and most prominently S.W.A.T. Then we get John's early family and school life, his early sporting career. For those that you don't know you might be surprised by his choice of high school sport. I know I was. Then following in his father's footsteps, to stepping out of his father shadow and carving out his own legacy on the force. During this period he vents his frustrations of the internal politics inside the police department. The difference between an office wanting to arrest the bad guys but protect and serve the public, compared to someone drunk on their own power or hungry for a promotion. A point about Johns character is that in the position he is in he could very easily made this book a tell all behind the scenes gossip book. He does not he mentions certain situations and stories but a number of cases he does not name and same the person involved.
Then from the half-way point of the book. Here the book becomes less about John, and much more about the history of MMA, and the UFC. At the time the UFC was MMA in America. Now that MMA is (finally) recognized as a sport how the new management made the UFC the biggest MMA league in the world. John was there from the beginning and helped in a number of ways behind the scenes more they just following the rules; he helped make the rules and made sure they were followed. The book ends round the end of 2011. If you are an MMA fan this is a great book, on both the history of MMA and one of the true pioneers of the sport. Great book bread it you will not regret it.
I have heard quotes form people saving that the reason John was so good at his job is because you did not notice him in the Octagon till the time he was needed. He writes the book the same way he puts emphasis on the fact that the fighter are the one doing the hard work as a referee he is in there to protect the fighters when they cannot protect themselves. Another great thing is the way he manages to humanize the fighters themselves. He talks about the emotions of different fighters before, during and after a fight. There ecstasy in victory and the crushing raw emotion of disappointment when they lose.
The book starts with John giving his family history. He starts with his grandfather, then his father and his career and innovations in the police force in terms of training and most prominently S.W.A.T. Then we get John's early family and school life, his early sporting career. For those that you don't know you might be surprised by his choice of high school sport. I know I was. Then following in his father's footsteps, to stepping out of his father shadow and carving out his own legacy on the force. During this period he vents his frustrations of the internal politics inside the police department. The difference between an office wanting to arrest the bad guys but protect and serve the public, compared to someone drunk on their own power or hungry for a promotion. A point about Johns character is that in the position he is in he could very easily made this book a tell all behind the scenes gossip book. He does not he mentions certain situations and stories but a number of cases he does not name and same the person involved.
Then from the half-way point of the book. Here the book becomes less about John, and much more about the history of MMA, and the UFC. At the time the UFC was MMA in America. Now that MMA is (finally) recognized as a sport how the new management made the UFC the biggest MMA league in the world. John was there from the beginning and helped in a number of ways behind the scenes more they just following the rules; he helped make the rules and made sure they were followed. The book ends round the end of 2011. If you are an MMA fan this is a great book, on both the history of MMA and one of the true pioneers of the sport. Great book bread it you will not regret it.
April 4, 2025
2.75..some good history if you’re an MMA buff. It got a bit repetitive when discussing each event and was a chore to read at times.
June 3, 2023
4,5/5
This book is the biography of the most iconic mma referee as well as a history of the UFC.
Both stories were gripping and interesting. I could have easily read this book in one go.
If you're a UFC fan you will love the inside information John shares throughout this book.
Highly recommended!
This book is the biography of the most iconic mma referee as well as a history of the UFC.
Both stories were gripping and interesting. I could have easily read this book in one go.
If you're a UFC fan you will love the inside information John shares throughout this book.
Highly recommended!
July 21, 2018
Great if you're a mma buff. Otherwise give it a pass.
February 25, 2017
During the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, I was a huge fan. Back when it was a contest of style vs style. In those early days, "Big" John McCarthy was as recognizable of a figure as the sport had. Luckily, the presentation of this book is such that it tells as much the story of the UFC as it does the life of Big John himself. In short, the audience for this type of reading gets what it wants.
For maybe the first 75 pages, "Let's Get It On" is devoted to McCarthy, such as his upbringing and time spent as a police officer. From there, the book focuses almost exclusively on McCarthy's relationship with UFC, beginning with the sport's very creation all the way to his "retirement" after the sport was on national television on a regular basis.
One of the more interesting points of this book is how knowledgeable McCarthy is on a variety of different subjects. He truly knows the "fight game" (I had no idea he trained with the Gracie's for a time) and seems to have a good finger on the pulse of everything MMA (even the behind-the-scenes politics). These insights make for a very engaging, insightful book that is so much more than just a tell-all or personal memoir.
Like I said, this book knows's its audience by focusing primarily on the UFC material. One could almost call this a "bio" of the early years of UFC, as well as some great contemporary info as well.
Despite this being a rather lengthy book, I finished it in a matter of nights. If you remember the "old days" (names like Gracie, Shamrock, Abbott, Severn, etc.) or are a current fan who wants to learn some MMA history, this book will having you turning pages deep into the night.
For maybe the first 75 pages, "Let's Get It On" is devoted to McCarthy, such as his upbringing and time spent as a police officer. From there, the book focuses almost exclusively on McCarthy's relationship with UFC, beginning with the sport's very creation all the way to his "retirement" after the sport was on national television on a regular basis.
One of the more interesting points of this book is how knowledgeable McCarthy is on a variety of different subjects. He truly knows the "fight game" (I had no idea he trained with the Gracie's for a time) and seems to have a good finger on the pulse of everything MMA (even the behind-the-scenes politics). These insights make for a very engaging, insightful book that is so much more than just a tell-all or personal memoir.
Like I said, this book knows's its audience by focusing primarily on the UFC material. One could almost call this a "bio" of the early years of UFC, as well as some great contemporary info as well.
Despite this being a rather lengthy book, I finished it in a matter of nights. If you remember the "old days" (names like Gracie, Shamrock, Abbott, Severn, etc.) or are a current fan who wants to learn some MMA history, this book will having you turning pages deep into the night.
September 22, 2011
I finished this using the Kindle app on my laptop during my prep period.
One of the big items on my bucket list is to serve in some capacity as either a judge or referee in MMA. It's not something that is just going to happen, I understand. And in the meantime I should probably start taking jiu-jitsu classes or something similar as a way to further my knowledge and understanding of the sport, but, similar to teaching being a way to further my passion for English, I like to think being a ref or a judge is a way for me to contribute to something about which I'm very passionate. At the moment, it's a financial and time commitment that I can't afford, but that's why it's a bucket list, right? John McCarthy is the first and most famous ref in MMA, and his book provides a ton of insight into how refs function inside and outside of the fight game.
As a history of MMA, the UFC and the evolution of the sport over the last 18 years, this book is top-notch. McCarthy has been around the sport since its inception and continues to be a part of it today, serving as the most recognizable ref in all of mixed martial arts. He literally details the infancy of the sport, and how UFC 1 originally served as an informercial for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Torrance. McCarthy had designs on fighting in the second event, but loyalty to Royce and Rorion Gracie prevented that since the whole competition was meant to showcase their various schools. Once that was established, Big John took on the role of referee and stayed there ever since despite being a well-versed practitioner of jiu-jitsu. Much like the fighters in the cage evolved over time, McCarthy orchestrated the evolution of his own role and even went on to draft the original rules of the cage.
But this memoir doesn't just cover his time in the Octagon; in fact, some of the most fascinating portions of the book deal with his high school days playing water polo and his time spent as a cop in the LAPD. The portion about Ron McCarthy, his father, a twice abandoned LAPD officer who helped form SWAT, provides enough craziness to fill his own book. The pre-UFC portions of the book also provide the kind of insight into McCarthy's world view that it becomes clear why he makes such a great ref. He has a very black-and-white outlook on the world and his police experience means that he knows how to make snap decisions and be willing to stick with them. McCarthy is fairly straight-laced and seemingly conservative because he comes off as almost homophobic in his discomfort with the idea of being mistaken for gay, but I don't sense malice in it, just discomfort.
On the Goodreads scale, I'd put this at four and a half stars but edged toward the full monty because Goodreads doesn't allow half-stars, I try to judge books on their own merits, and this is a tremendous introduction for anyone is interested in the history of MMA, specifically the UFC. A lot of the credit should go to Loretta Hunt, too, as I feel she really improved between this biography and her contributions to Randy Couture's book.
Finally, the one weird thing that occurred in my reading experience had less to do with the book and more to do with reading it on a Kindle. Some of the names of chapters were really oddly misspelled, like using an R in place of an A, and it came off like it was a mistake in the digital transfer moreso than a printing error. I get the impression that the sidebars devoted to single events (e.g. UFC 74, Strikeforce: Destruction) appear on single pages, and they look awkward with the way they interrupt the narrative flow of the chapter.
One of the big items on my bucket list is to serve in some capacity as either a judge or referee in MMA. It's not something that is just going to happen, I understand. And in the meantime I should probably start taking jiu-jitsu classes or something similar as a way to further my knowledge and understanding of the sport, but, similar to teaching being a way to further my passion for English, I like to think being a ref or a judge is a way for me to contribute to something about which I'm very passionate. At the moment, it's a financial and time commitment that I can't afford, but that's why it's a bucket list, right? John McCarthy is the first and most famous ref in MMA, and his book provides a ton of insight into how refs function inside and outside of the fight game.
As a history of MMA, the UFC and the evolution of the sport over the last 18 years, this book is top-notch. McCarthy has been around the sport since its inception and continues to be a part of it today, serving as the most recognizable ref in all of mixed martial arts. He literally details the infancy of the sport, and how UFC 1 originally served as an informercial for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Torrance. McCarthy had designs on fighting in the second event, but loyalty to Royce and Rorion Gracie prevented that since the whole competition was meant to showcase their various schools. Once that was established, Big John took on the role of referee and stayed there ever since despite being a well-versed practitioner of jiu-jitsu. Much like the fighters in the cage evolved over time, McCarthy orchestrated the evolution of his own role and even went on to draft the original rules of the cage.
But this memoir doesn't just cover his time in the Octagon; in fact, some of the most fascinating portions of the book deal with his high school days playing water polo and his time spent as a cop in the LAPD. The portion about Ron McCarthy, his father, a twice abandoned LAPD officer who helped form SWAT, provides enough craziness to fill his own book. The pre-UFC portions of the book also provide the kind of insight into McCarthy's world view that it becomes clear why he makes such a great ref. He has a very black-and-white outlook on the world and his police experience means that he knows how to make snap decisions and be willing to stick with them. McCarthy is fairly straight-laced and seemingly conservative because he comes off as almost homophobic in his discomfort with the idea of being mistaken for gay, but I don't sense malice in it, just discomfort.
On the Goodreads scale, I'd put this at four and a half stars but edged toward the full monty because Goodreads doesn't allow half-stars, I try to judge books on their own merits, and this is a tremendous introduction for anyone is interested in the history of MMA, specifically the UFC. A lot of the credit should go to Loretta Hunt, too, as I feel she really improved between this biography and her contributions to Randy Couture's book.
Finally, the one weird thing that occurred in my reading experience had less to do with the book and more to do with reading it on a Kindle. Some of the names of chapters were really oddly misspelled, like using an R in place of an A, and it came off like it was a mistake in the digital transfer moreso than a printing error. I get the impression that the sidebars devoted to single events (e.g. UFC 74, Strikeforce: Destruction) appear on single pages, and they look awkward with the way they interrupt the narrative flow of the chapter.
July 16, 2014
I have been waiting for this book for about a year - ever since Loretta Hunt first announced that its in the works. Not because I am this huge John McCarthy fan, but because I knew that he is one of the best UFC scholars there are. I was expecting a history book on the rise of MMA in North America, but oh wait... You silly fucker FORGOT, that this is an autobiography, not a textbook. So before I reached my fun stories about what was going on behind the scenes in the UFC in the 90s, I had to endure ~7 chapters of his lifestory. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't painfully boring, but I don't really care about John Michael McCarthy per se - I care about 'The Octagon's ninth side', the iconic referee [slash] sport historian, Big John.
Still, I have to admit - it was kind of interesting to see how he was brought up, because before reading this book I had this misconception that this was a very well educated guy coming from a upper-middleclass family: I had that impression of him, because whenever I heard him doing interviews, he was very articulate, well-spoken and he always talked with a sense of authority. Turns out that McCarthy was the posterboy for jocks and meatheads everywhere: dropped out of college, constantly got into fights, took up powerlifting, did 2 years of steroids and even admitted to dumping girls without calling them... and that... that's just plain rude, for Christ's sake. Thankfully, he got his shit together, went into law enforcement and found Rorion.
The part of the book that covered UFC's years under the SEG umbrella was awesome. I won't spoil them, but the story where Tank Abbott sent bullets to SEG's accounts as a "reminder" on their overdue payments - that was pure gold. The "fun" stories came to an end with Zuffa's acquisition of the UFC: that's when [after sanctioning went through] John stopped being an employee of the UFC and put on the shirt of an NSAC official. Unfortunately, he was no longer fixture behind the scenes.
On a side note, I also appreciated how candid he was on all of Gracie topics. I mean, he didn't drop any "dirt" on them, but due to the fact that he is no longer affiliated with GJJ (for many years now), he was not tongue-tied while talking about Rorion, Royce, Rickson and the early days of the UFC.
As a matter of fact, the whole book had a very honest feel to it - even the last pages where he talked about how his relationship with Zuffa soured, he noted that he may be to blame. And I share the sentiment, because it seemed like before his retirement/sabbatical from refereeing, Big John grew a Big Head and decided that some special treatment is long overdue. Not cool.
P.S. Lately, I started ending my reviews with a favorite quote from the book, so I'll try to make an annoying habbit out of it and do the same here. Big John remembers Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie II (UFC 5):
Still, I have to admit - it was kind of interesting to see how he was brought up, because before reading this book I had this misconception that this was a very well educated guy coming from a upper-middleclass family: I had that impression of him, because whenever I heard him doing interviews, he was very articulate, well-spoken and he always talked with a sense of authority. Turns out that McCarthy was the posterboy for jocks and meatheads everywhere: dropped out of college, constantly got into fights, took up powerlifting, did 2 years of steroids and even admitted to dumping girls without calling them... and that... that's just plain rude, for Christ's sake. Thankfully, he got his shit together, went into law enforcement and found Rorion.
The part of the book that covered UFC's years under the SEG umbrella was awesome. I won't spoil them, but the story where Tank Abbott sent bullets to SEG's accounts as a "reminder" on their overdue payments - that was pure gold. The "fun" stories came to an end with Zuffa's acquisition of the UFC: that's when [after sanctioning went through] John stopped being an employee of the UFC and put on the shirt of an NSAC official. Unfortunately, he was no longer fixture behind the scenes.
On a side note, I also appreciated how candid he was on all of Gracie topics. I mean, he didn't drop any "dirt" on them, but due to the fact that he is no longer affiliated with GJJ (for many years now), he was not tongue-tied while talking about Rorion, Royce, Rickson and the early days of the UFC.
As a matter of fact, the whole book had a very honest feel to it - even the last pages where he talked about how his relationship with Zuffa soured, he noted that he may be to blame. And I share the sentiment, because it seemed like before his retirement/sabbatical from refereeing, Big John grew a Big Head and decided that some special treatment is long overdue. Not cool.
P.S. Lately, I started ending my reviews with a favorite quote from the book, so I'll try to make an annoying habbit out of it and do the same here. Big John remembers Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie II (UFC 5):
The fight was simply coma inducing, but I was able to laugh in the middle of it all when Bob Shamrock, Ken’s feisty adoptive father, finally grew frustrated with his son’s tactics and yelled, “Well, if you’re just going to lay there with him, you might as well start kissing him.”If you love MMA stories like that - you are buying this book. Bottom line.
The always stoic Royce looked at the elder Shamrock and then at Ken and said, “Please don’t do that.”
January 25, 2012
If you're an MMA fan you'll probably enjoy this on some level. It's interesting because it's about a ref as opposed to the many fighter books we have.
Big John talks about the history of the UFC, and he goes into depth about it. He details the beginnings, the behind-the-scenes, and other things. He talks about his experiences being a ref, his faults and accomplishments. He talks about how he felt bad for some fighters and wished he would have done things differently. This is an honest book, and that's to be respected. It's a more down-to-earth look on the UFC as some people might give who worship the UFC and think there's nothing else. One of the better parts in relation to the UFC was when he talked about how even though the modern era UFC, Zuffa, are definitely to be thanked for taking MMA where it is today, there were people before Zuffa came along that were already making advancements. I'm not talking anything away from the UFC by saying that people buy into Zuffa a little too much because I can see both their accomplishments, in which there are many, and there faults. It's nice that Big John can see it too, much better than I can.
The MMA stuff was interesting for the most part, even if the writing wasn't anything groundbreaking. It did its purpose. Where I felt the book fell was actually the first 100 pages. I'll add something before I explain why; the reason I was slightly bored may be the reason other fans end up loving the book more than I do.
I just really wasn't that interested in his growing up and his days as a cop. I don't know if I can speak for many MMA fans but I imagine most of them came to this for insights on the sport they love. At the same time, I can see why it's in the book. Some people will like seeing his back-story and what shaped him and his reffing career. I feel like it could have been touched on among the MMA talk, because it's obvious his childhood and young adulthood impacted him as a ref, so they could have tied it in better instead of making us read it for 100 pages.
Again, I can see why some people might like this and it comes down to personal preference. I didn't enjoy the first 100 pages or so that much. I went to this book just for MMA-related information. This isn't an insult but in terms of celebrities -- in which I know Big John never wanted to be one -- he's just really not that interesting. I guess that's where his life story doesn't really get me. It's like reading about a normal guy. I wouldn't write a book about my upbringing because while it was fine and dandy, it wasn't exactly news worthy. I feel like this applies to Big John too.
When it started to get into the MMA, I got more engaged by it. There were even some heartwarming and sad parts thrown in there that touched me on an emotional level, so it wasn't just a book about MMA.
All-in-all, this is a solid book. It's recommended reading for anybody interested in the sport.
Big John talks about the history of the UFC, and he goes into depth about it. He details the beginnings, the behind-the-scenes, and other things. He talks about his experiences being a ref, his faults and accomplishments. He talks about how he felt bad for some fighters and wished he would have done things differently. This is an honest book, and that's to be respected. It's a more down-to-earth look on the UFC as some people might give who worship the UFC and think there's nothing else. One of the better parts in relation to the UFC was when he talked about how even though the modern era UFC, Zuffa, are definitely to be thanked for taking MMA where it is today, there were people before Zuffa came along that were already making advancements. I'm not talking anything away from the UFC by saying that people buy into Zuffa a little too much because I can see both their accomplishments, in which there are many, and there faults. It's nice that Big John can see it too, much better than I can.
The MMA stuff was interesting for the most part, even if the writing wasn't anything groundbreaking. It did its purpose. Where I felt the book fell was actually the first 100 pages. I'll add something before I explain why; the reason I was slightly bored may be the reason other fans end up loving the book more than I do.
I just really wasn't that interested in his growing up and his days as a cop. I don't know if I can speak for many MMA fans but I imagine most of them came to this for insights on the sport they love. At the same time, I can see why it's in the book. Some people will like seeing his back-story and what shaped him and his reffing career. I feel like it could have been touched on among the MMA talk, because it's obvious his childhood and young adulthood impacted him as a ref, so they could have tied it in better instead of making us read it for 100 pages.
Again, I can see why some people might like this and it comes down to personal preference. I didn't enjoy the first 100 pages or so that much. I went to this book just for MMA-related information. This isn't an insult but in terms of celebrities -- in which I know Big John never wanted to be one -- he's just really not that interesting. I guess that's where his life story doesn't really get me. It's like reading about a normal guy. I wouldn't write a book about my upbringing because while it was fine and dandy, it wasn't exactly news worthy. I feel like this applies to Big John too.
When it started to get into the MMA, I got more engaged by it. There were even some heartwarming and sad parts thrown in there that touched me on an emotional level, so it wasn't just a book about MMA.
All-in-all, this is a solid book. It's recommended reading for anybody interested in the sport.
April 5, 2016
"Big" John McCarthy has literally been there since the beginning.
From making his debut as a referee at UFC 2 in 1994 to officiating alongside his son at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg, McCarthy is one of the most important players in the early development of our beloved sport.
His autobiography, co-written with veteran MMA journalist Loretta Hunt, Let's Get It On! The Making of MMA and Its Ultimate Referee, is a tale of not only a man's life story, but an incredible look behind the scenes of the early days of mixed martial arts.
Now it's time for the big question:
Is this 400-plus page book a worthy addition to your MMA library?
Short answer: Absolutely!
The book begins with some history behind McCarthy, delving into his family life (his father helped create the modern day SWAT unit), his experiences in sports (even admitting to taking steroids while power lifting), becoming a police officer in the LAPD and having to deal with the LA riots.
He's not afraid to pull punches either, at others or himself. This isn't the tale of a golden child who miraculously rose to the cream of the crop. McCarthy regularly admits to dealing with anger management problems and making poor decisions. How he proposed to his wife is definitely a highlight.
But for the true MMA aficionados out there, the meat of the book begins when McCarthy builds a friendship with Rorian Gracie and contributes greatly to the early days of Ultimate Fighting Championship.
McCarthy details an incredible history lesson from a first person perspective: politics between the Gracie family. issues with the getting the events televised and eventually his major role in developing the rules we see today in modern MMA. Most rules were made from observations "Big John" made inside the Octagon, learning from past mistakes.
There are also multiple stories about the early fighters like David "Tank" Abbott and Ken Shamrock that are unforgettable. One must wonder how many more were left on the cutting room floor due to privacy issues?
One doesn't truly appreciate the debt mixed martial arts owes to John McCarthy until reading about the countless meetings he had with government officials explaining the intricacies of the sport, that it wasn't simply "human cockfighting." McCarthy was more than a referee, he was a spokesman championing the cause of MMA to anyone that would listen with an open mind.
This book is a "must-read" for those who are interested in the early days of the sport. It is a tale not only of a man who worked incredibly hard to get where he is today, but also of the rise of the UFC from the dark ages of no holds barred combat to the magnificent sporting spectacle we witness today. This is a fascinating first-person account of UFC history from a man who's had the best seat in the house for well over a decade.
This review was originally written in August 2011 on MMAMania.com.
From making his debut as a referee at UFC 2 in 1994 to officiating alongside his son at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg, McCarthy is one of the most important players in the early development of our beloved sport.
His autobiography, co-written with veteran MMA journalist Loretta Hunt, Let's Get It On! The Making of MMA and Its Ultimate Referee, is a tale of not only a man's life story, but an incredible look behind the scenes of the early days of mixed martial arts.
Now it's time for the big question:
Is this 400-plus page book a worthy addition to your MMA library?
Short answer: Absolutely!
The book begins with some history behind McCarthy, delving into his family life (his father helped create the modern day SWAT unit), his experiences in sports (even admitting to taking steroids while power lifting), becoming a police officer in the LAPD and having to deal with the LA riots.
He's not afraid to pull punches either, at others or himself. This isn't the tale of a golden child who miraculously rose to the cream of the crop. McCarthy regularly admits to dealing with anger management problems and making poor decisions. How he proposed to his wife is definitely a highlight.
But for the true MMA aficionados out there, the meat of the book begins when McCarthy builds a friendship with Rorian Gracie and contributes greatly to the early days of Ultimate Fighting Championship.
McCarthy details an incredible history lesson from a first person perspective: politics between the Gracie family. issues with the getting the events televised and eventually his major role in developing the rules we see today in modern MMA. Most rules were made from observations "Big John" made inside the Octagon, learning from past mistakes.
There are also multiple stories about the early fighters like David "Tank" Abbott and Ken Shamrock that are unforgettable. One must wonder how many more were left on the cutting room floor due to privacy issues?
One doesn't truly appreciate the debt mixed martial arts owes to John McCarthy until reading about the countless meetings he had with government officials explaining the intricacies of the sport, that it wasn't simply "human cockfighting." McCarthy was more than a referee, he was a spokesman championing the cause of MMA to anyone that would listen with an open mind.
This book is a "must-read" for those who are interested in the early days of the sport. It is a tale not only of a man who worked incredibly hard to get where he is today, but also of the rise of the UFC from the dark ages of no holds barred combat to the magnificent sporting spectacle we witness today. This is a fascinating first-person account of UFC history from a man who's had the best seat in the house for well over a decade.
This review was originally written in August 2011 on MMAMania.com.
January 8, 2013
Like the Stitch Duran book, this one is mostly geared towards people who are familiar with Big John McCarthy and his work in MMA. However, this book is much more well written than Stitch's, while also being vastly more interesting in general.
This is not a knock against Stitch. He has been a fixture in combat sports for a long time. But Big John has had a bigger impact on the UFC (and by extension, MMA) in his career than Stitch has, including being one of the men to start putting rules in place to protect the fighters from unnecessary harm in the cage. He helped take the UFC from a backyard circus to the much more respected billion-dollar industry that it is today. Without him, it's possible there wouldn't be a UFC these days.
Definitely a must read for fans of the sport.
This is not a knock against Stitch. He has been a fixture in combat sports for a long time. But Big John has had a bigger impact on the UFC (and by extension, MMA) in his career than Stitch has, including being one of the men to start putting rules in place to protect the fighters from unnecessary harm in the cage. He helped take the UFC from a backyard circus to the much more respected billion-dollar industry that it is today. Without him, it's possible there wouldn't be a UFC these days.
Definitely a must read for fans of the sport.
September 19, 2011
I am a big MMA fan, so this book was very interesting to me. It provide a complete account of an insider's history and the evolution of the sport, starting from the first UFC - which I watched, up to the most recent events of the UFC buying Strikeforce. It was great to go back in time and relive some of those earlier events, but from a much different perspective. John comes across as intelligent and is an extremely straight forward person who doesn't hold back. Some parts are a little embellished for flair but on the whole this was an excellent book if you are interested in MMA, and a must if you are a fan.
December 26, 2016
Awesome insights into the beginning of mma in the modern era.
McCarthy has been a key figure in the evolution of the sport and to read about his experiences both in the ring and behind the scenes is an eye opening journey. I'd have appreciated a bit more about the rules and judging, maybe more about his thoughts about fighting and the fighters themselves as well.
If you are interested in Mma this book gives a great insightful explanation of how we got here. I hope he follows it up with another when he retires and has more leeway to speak his mind without it impacting his role in the sport.
McCarthy has been a key figure in the evolution of the sport and to read about his experiences both in the ring and behind the scenes is an eye opening journey. I'd have appreciated a bit more about the rules and judging, maybe more about his thoughts about fighting and the fighters themselves as well.
If you are interested in Mma this book gives a great insightful explanation of how we got here. I hope he follows it up with another when he retires and has more leeway to speak his mind without it impacting his role in the sport.
October 18, 2011
As a UFC fan, it's interesting to read his side of how the UFC evolved from its Gracie roots. However, it really offers little to anyone who isn't interested in MMA, which is surprising, because it seems he had a lot that he could have potentially said, having had to juggle both being a police officer and a UFC referee at once. I would recommend the book to anyone with any interest in the history of MMA, but tell everyone else to pass this one up.
September 3, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. "Big" John's enthusiasm and passion for MMA really comes through in the telling of his story. His "best seat in the house" for some of mixed martial arts greatest fights gives the reader a whole new perspective on these epic battles. It was pretty much just a telling of his life inside and outside the cage, but to a fight fan like myself, it was a passionate journey through the best and worst of the fighting world.
October 16, 2011
a cool read for anyone interested in a behind-the-scenes history of the ufc and modern mma . . not great writing or anything, and i skimmed anything that was specifically just about mccarthy's personal life, but there's no denying that he was pivotal in making the sport what it is currently . .
November 6, 2011
As a fan of MMA, I found the book interesting and informative. John McCarthy was in the UFC from the very beginning and the stories he tells about how the company, as well as about the fights are interesting. of ground, The book covers a lot of ground.
September 11, 2020
McCarthy's book is loaded with good detail, particularly about his early days as a steroid-using powerlifter and a dedicated LA cop. Great reference work for those interested in the sport's evolution
September 26, 2011
Interesting read, but definitely for the fanboys.
October 5, 2011
It starts at the beginning of the UFC and tells tales I hadn't heard. Pretty good even if he can't quite get his pop culture references correct.
January 5, 2012
Not an intellectual stretch, but some great history and background of a sport to which I was a bit of a latecomer.
July 15, 2013
loved the book. excellent. a must read if your an MMA fan
April 21, 2012
At least he is man enough to admit he burned his own bridges with the UFC trying to cash in on MMA.
April 28, 2012
This book is very interesting for everybody which is interested in MMA and his beginning.With a lot information from kitchen Big John was walking through UFC and his MMA carrier as judge.
July 25, 2012
If you're a fan of MMA and want an inside scoop to the earliest days of UFC this is an excellent and entertaining read.
February 5, 2015
a good read if you're a UFC buff
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