McCarthy, who helped develop the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, said Dana White was unhappy when he joined the Bellator commentary team. He suggested White’s opposition contributed to his absence from UFC assignments.
John McCarthy says Bellator commentary role angered Dana White, discusses UFC’s influence on referee appointments
State athletic commissions generally assign referees for MMA events within their jurisdictions. McCarthy said the UFC provides commissions with names of officials it prefers.
“I went and worked for Bellator and Dana White was absolutely pissed about that and said, ‘I don't want him.’ And he doesn't need me,” McCarthy told Ariel Helwani.