Let's Get It On!: The Making of MMA and Its Ultimate Referee [Kindle Edition]

It's UFC 140, December 2011 and Jon Jones has just successfully defended his Light Heavyweight Title against Lyoto Machida, defeating him with a standing guillotine choke that put's Machida to sleep before he can tap out, as Jones walks aways Machida drops head first to the floor of the Octagon and the first person Machida will see when he awakes is veteran referee "Big " John McCarthy who checks on him and tells him he's going to be okay. McCarthy has done this countless times on fighters who have been knocked out or put to sleep by a submission. The fact that an MMA referee has written his own Autobiography will probably have newer fans of the sport asking why? Who's this guy? With "Let's Get it On! The Making of MMA & Its Ultimate Referee" you find out that "Big" John is one of the early pioneers of the UFC and MMA in general.

The book covers John's early life as he follows in his dad's footsteps and joins the LAPD; we are given a great insight into the Los Angeles riots that happened in 1992 after four Police officers were acquitted of the beating of Rodney King. It really was open season and anything goes and McCarthy tells us the stories of being a cop on the streets during this time that included being shot at regularly. Also the worries he had for his wife Elaine who was also on the force. It was in the aftermath of these riots that McCarthy would first meet Rorion Gracie and how the original idea for the first ever UFC event came about.

McCarthy covers the first few UFC's in great detail and includes some of the original ideas such as alligators circling the Octagon! He would eventually go on to referee the second event after been turned down in his attempts to compete. What follows are great stories of the UFC's early days where it really was no holds barred as loads of different fighting disciplines came to meet to decide which was the best. One thing McCarthy never get's that much credit for is the safer rules that he helped get put in place. There are many stories of the UFC going to court just trying to get a show on and at times failing and having to move the whole show to another state.

Another interesting thing is the subject of "fixed" fights in the UFC's early days; it's great to finally have some insight to this. Also trying to get regulated in Las Vegas throws up a few interesting names who were opposed such as Lorenzo Fertitta and Glenn Carano(father of future mma superstar & actress Gina). Of course the takeover by the Fertitta's is discussed and what new changes new UFC president Dana White brought. The Ultimate Fighter reality show is well covered as well as his retirement and come back to being a referee.

The book has some great photos of early UFC events as well down the side of some pages is a box with the event and matches officiated by McCarthy who gives a brief description of what happened. The book is written with long time MMA Journalist Loretta Hunt, a woman who has been covering MMA for over 10 years and has written for leading sites Sherdog, ESPN.com and currently Sports Illustrated. She also worked with Randy Couture on his fine autobiography "Becoming The Natural".

With MMA books getting more popular it's great to have an insight from one of its Pioneer's and one of the men responsible for how big it is today. Not only is this a fine Autobiography of "Big" John McCarthy's Career and life but it's a great history of what the UFC was like and what it has become today. There is only one thing left to say "Let's Get It On!"

As a big MMA fan I was sceptical that the autobiography of an MMA referee would be worth my while but I took a chance, and I'm definitely glad I did.

Brilliant book, which is interesting from start to finish, even when talking about non MMA aspects of Big John's life, his early life growing up, his work on the police force etc.

This book has lots of great background info and reveals plenty of stuff I never knew about the UFC, from the guy who has been there since UFC 1 - including his thoughts on some fights he believes have been fixed,

Highly recommended to any MMA or UFC fan!!!

An enjoyable, quick read providing interesting insight into the life of the world's most famous MMA referee . Big John comes across as a principled, decent guy but also one who is prepared to get stuck into a fight himself and likely an athlete who could have performed admirably in the Octagon Ring itself. He tells briefly of his early childhood and experience in the LAPD and the importance of his family unit. He describes the origins of the UFC and the significance of the Gracie family, he describes the mishaps and the evolution of the UFC from the army days to what it has become today and I now better appreciate the importance of having a knowledgeable, decisive referee. Big John comes across as candid and honest and refrains from spilling juicy gossip in favour of a straightforward, fair account of the. Ups and downs in the profession. There are also occasional philosophical gems and words of wisdom which come over as especially heartfelt considering the life he has led. Four rather than five stars for me as I felt that there was so much more that could be told about the inner goings and machine toons of the UFC and provide more detail as to his favourite fights and fighters. But I guess we will need to wait for his notebook for that.