Let's Get It On!_ The Making of MMA and Its Ultimate Referee - Big John Mccarthy [153]
That July, I was surprised when I got the call from George Dodd, the new executive officer of the California State Athletic Commission.
After meeting George and seeing where he came from, I knew he was an honest man, and I told him that I’d always be up-front with him. George asked why he was being told that I’d said negative things about the UFC and had a grudge against them. I told him about the interview and encouraged him to listen to it himself and make up his own mind about it.
Shortly after, he gave me an assignment to officiate the UFC’s second live event for the Versus channel on August 1, 2010, in San Diego. A few UFCs had come and gone in California since I’d returned to officiating, and I hadn’t been assigned to any of them under the previous executive officer’s command. I assumed I’d never referee a UFC event in my home state again.
It had been nearly three years since I’d stepped into the Octagon, and some MMA media had made noise about why it had taken so long. After all this time, I tried to think it wasn’t a big deal to be returning. However, Elaine’s mind raced that this might be a first step toward some kind of reconciliation. I didn’t think that would be the case at all. I knew I wasn’t wanted by the people who are most important within the Zuffa headquarters: Lorenzo and Dana. I wasn’t completely sure about Lorenzo, but one of the best things about Dana is that he has no problem saying how he feels, and he had said enough for me to know I wouldn’t be a welcome addition.
At the show, I went about my normal business. It was great to see some of the UFC employees I hadn’t spoken to in a while, including event coordinator Burt Watson.
On one of my walks from the locker rooms back to the arena floor, I passed Dana in the hallway. He hadn’t spoken kindly of me publicly the last few years, and now he was standing right in front of me. Before he could say anything, I said, “Dana, thank you for everything you’ve done for the sport and for me in the past. It didn’t go unnoticed. I just wanted to tell you that.”
I shook his hand as he said, “Thank you,” and I continued on my way to sit cageside with the other commission employees.
I can positively say my brief exchange with Dana wasn’t planned and was absolutely sincere. Whatever there was between Dana and me didn’t change the fact that he, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, and Zuffa’s dedicated staff had an immense hand in saving MMA from extinction.
Maybe I’d thought this could be the last time I’d speak to Dana, and I wanted him to know I’d never stopped being grateful.
One of the frequently asked questions I get nowadays is “Do you have any hard feelings toward the UFC?”
The truthful answer is I never have. I spent many years trying to get people to understand the UFC and mixed martial arts for the competition it is. When everyone said the UFC was going to die, I fought to keep interest alive. When everyone told me to leave the organization I believed in, I stayed.
I never owned any part of the UFC, but I always felt like I was a part of it. Eventually that feeling kind of went away. Was that my own fault? Maybe.
I made the decision to leave on my own. Zuffa stayed loyal to me the whole time, though back then I thought Lorenzo and Dana wouldn’t be able to back me up forever.
I read the crystal ball wrong. I made the wrong call.
Sometimes you have to gamble big to understand the game. My big payoff out of all of this was wisdom, and you know what? That’s okay. I figured out what really counts.
STRIKEFORCE
“Henderson vs. Babalu 2”
December 4, 2010
Scottrade Center
St. Louis, Missouri
Bouts I Reffed:
Justin Lawrence vs. Max Martyniouk
Antonio Silva vs. Mike Kyle
Paul Daley vs. Scott Smith
Renato “Babalu” Sobral vs. Dan Henderson
It was a night of devastation—the last three main card bouts ended with first-round knockouts, something rare for a big event.
In the main event, Henderson connected with his big right hand. Sobral shot for a takedown