Legendary MMA referee `Big` John McCarthy has weighed in on the contentious outcome from last Saturday`s UFC Perth event.
Despite prior criticism regarding several fight cancellations, the UFC Perth card proceeded mostly without incident. However, a welterweight bout on the main card featured a significant moment of confusion. Neil Magny secured a remarkable comeback victory against Jake Matthews, defying expectations at 38 years old. While Magny`s late surge was undoubtedly impressive, there`s a strong argument that he should never have been given the opportunity to continue the fight.
`Big` John McCarthy questions referee`s impact on Jake Matthews
In the closing seconds of the first round, the referee appeared to halt the contest between Neil Magny and Jake Matthews. Believing Magny had been choked unconscious, the official intervened. Yet, upon separating the fighters and realizing Magny was still responsive, the bout was permitted to resume.
Widely recognized as MMA`s foremost authority on rules and officiating, `Big` John McCarthy offered his expert opinion. On a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast, McCarthy concurred with the referee`s ultimate decision to let the fight proceed. However, he emphasized that the initial erroneous stoppage could have profoundly impacted Matthews psychologically.
McCarthy elaborated on the potential psychological toll, stating: “The real problem with it is, when you do it, it can absolutely take someone like a Jake Matthews and it takes them from having this all of a sudden super high adrenaline and it dumps them because he feels like, ‘You just pulled me off, I just got a win, and now no I don’t have a win.’ That can be a mental breakdown and it’s really not Jake’s fault, so that’s tough.”
He noted that Matthews had been gaining the upper hand in the fight even after this controversial moment, before ultimately succumbing to a third-round submission. McCarthy expressed his concern: “I feel bad for Jake Matthews, though. I don’t know if he lost a little bit of concentration in that third round. I don’t know what it was because he was up two rounds.”
Jake Matthews references impact of controversial call in post-fight statement
Jake Matthews himself addressed the controversial incident in his post-fight statement on social media. The welterweight fighter echoed McCarthy`s perspective, suggesting that the referee`s mistake had indeed affected his performance.
He also revealed that the local commission is currently reviewing the situation, potentially leading to an overturning of the fight`s result. UFC executive Dave Shaw, in his post-fight press conference, acknowledged that an error likely occurred, but stressed that any further action would be at the discretion of the commission.
