Referee “Big” John McCarthy’s trademarked call has signaled the start of some of the greatest battles in mixed martial arts.

A twenty-two-year LAPD veteran and referee of over 500 UFC bouts, beginning with UFC 2, McCarthy has been the pillar of order amidst the chaos and controversy surrounding an emerging sport still struggling for acceptance. The athletes standing on either side of the stoic official have evolved over the years—from karate black belts and single-gloved boxers to multidisciplined fighting machines competent in a host of combative arts. Still, McCarthy has remained at the center of the action, oftentimes the only man standing between an athlete and serious injury. With his unmatched tenure, McCarthy has experienced firsthand many of the sport’s greatest moments, from Tito Ortiz v. Ken Shamrock I at UFC 40 in 2002, to Randy Couture v. Tim Sylvia at UFC 68 in 2007.

Now, along with one of the sport’s most respected journalists, Loretta Hunt, the iconic referee shares his inside-the-cage account of MMA’s roller-coaster journey from unruly beginnings to mainstream attraction. Think you know the history of MMA? Let’s Get It On.