“Big” John McCarthy has been a familiar face on Bellator MMA broadcasts in recent years. However, with the Professional Fighters League’s acquisition of the California-based promotion, McCarthy anticipates that his role with the company will change in the near future. McCarthy, a former referee and a key figure in the development of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, expects to focus more on rules and regulations, fight scoring, and ensuring that officials are properly executing their duties.
Despite the acquisition, McCarthy will remain with the PFL due to a preexisting contract with Bellator, which the PFL has picked up. While Bellator and the PFL are expected to continue operating independently, McCarthy will not be involved in any broadcast plans for either organization. Instead, the PFL has expressed big ideas and plans for McCarthy’s role within the company.
The first event following the acquisition is scheduled for February 24 in Saudi Arabia, where PFL champions will square off against Bellator champions in a pay-per-view card. McCarthy expressed excitement for the event and praised the PFL’s lineup of commentators, signaling his commitment to staying with the PFL despite the changes brought about by the acquisition.
