Let's Get It On!: The Making of MMA and Its Ultimate Referee - Hardcover

"Great storytelling, great insight, and a great history of the UFC's rise. A subtle reminder that, much as we like the mano a mano of the sport, the third man in the arena can make all the difference." --Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated senior writer, author, Blood in the Cage "A no-nonsense, hands-on account of the blood and sweat that lifted MMA from the sports blacklist and turned it into a billion-dollar industry. McCarthy didn't just observe history--he helped make it." --Jake Rossen, ESPN.com "'Big' John has been around from the UFC's very beginnings and has experienced this sport from a perspective few will ever know." --Chuck Liddell, UFC champion and Hall of Famer "'Big' John McCarthy has long been MMA's best and most knowledgeable official. He's been in the most amazing seat from the beginning in every arena this sport has ever been in--the hot seat in the cage!" --Randy Couture, UFC Hall of Famer and six-time champion "One of the best books ever written about the sport ... Part history and part biography, both parts equally fascinating." --SBNation.com "The only thing bigger than his authoritative presence is his knowledge of the sport he helped build." - Mauro Ranallo, MMA commentator "Compelling ... Many books have been written about MMA history, but the perspective from a primary figure in the sport sets this apart from previous efforts. At 418 pages, it's a hefty word, but fans will devour his stories and breeze through this highly entertaining tome." -- Chicago Sun-Times "A testosterone-fueled, adrenaline pumping joy ride, and fans will surely be thrilled to meet the man they know so well from TV." -- Publishers Weekly

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.