The most recognizable referee in MMA history will return to the UFC this Sunday at UFC on Versus 2. “Big” John McCarthy has not officiated a match in the Octagon since 2007 due to a dispute with the promotion’s influential president Dana White.

MMAFighting confirmed the news on Monday citing McCarthy’s wife and MMA promoter Elaine. According to the report, the California Athletic Commission assigned McCarthy to referee matches for the event. UFC on Versus 2 will take place at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, Calif..

As a Rorion Gracie student, McCarthy was assigned to referee bouts at UFC 2 back in 1994. The former LAPD officer brought a new sense of order to the caged mayhem. He has admitted that he wanted to enter the UFC as a competitor, but Gracie thought that Brazilian jiu-jitsu needed only one representative in the early tournaments.

McCarthy retired from officiating in 2007. While away he worked as a television analyst for the Fight Network and Affliction’s first MMA show. While working as an analyst, he commentated on the UFC’s position as a force in the MMA world and incurred the wrath of White.

He returned to refereeing in 2008, but has not been given any UFC assignments by the commissions.

Headlining UFC on Versus 2 is a light heavyweight fight between fast-rising prospect Jon Jones and former IFL champion Vladimir Matyushenko.

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