[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

I'm sitting here watching UFC 55 and a heavyweight bout between Marcio Cruz vs. Kunihara and Big John just towers over both of them and is the one out of anybody on this DVD that I'd want on my side in a barfight.

When you read about Big John, you realize that he was not only a tactics and self defense trainer for the LAPD and a pretty tough cop, but he has vast training in BJJ under the Gracies(presently a Blackbelt) and I've read several times about the fact that he was interested in fighting for UFC rather than refing at UFC 2 but Rorion Gracie talked him out of it. He's a very intelligent and well studied individual and I think he had some serious potential to be a "great" MMA fighter. Oh, he's also 6'4 and about 240lbs and a pretty ripped guy too!

I just find this a very interesting "WHAT IF?", for the era had so few physically imposing/dominating fighters with technique and BJJ ability. Consider all of the "pioneers of UFC"(1-15 say): Royce, Shamrock, Severn, Kimo, Frye, Taktarov, Coleman, Abbott, Goodridge, Beneteau, Mo Smith, Mark Kerr, Harold Howard! I'm thinkin' Big John could take most if not all of these fighters, or at least put forth a thoroughly strong performance.

Just got to thinking about how vastly different the landscape of the early UFC would've been if Big John had chosen a different route. Would he have become a legend? Or am I giving Big John too much lure or cred???

I personally think that we'd have a very different impression of "UFC Legend" and names like Shamrock, Frye and Gracie may not be as well known if Big John had chosen to challenge them, rather than protect them.

End of day, there are few people who I think are as legitimately badass and scary tough as Big John McCarthey and IMO, I think he could have had one of the sickest careers as a fighter if he chose to pursue it rather than his legacy as a fabulous official.

Thoughts?