'Big' John McCarthy assigned to referee Tito Ortiz's final MMA fight

Legendary mixed martial arts referee "Big" John McCarthy officiated Tito Ortiz's second professional fight almost twenty years ago, and on Saturday night, he'll referee his last.

According to California State Athletic Commission executive commissioner Andy Foster, McCarthy has been assigned to referee the the Ortiz vs. Chael Sonnen main event fight Saturday night at Bellator 170. The event will be held at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif.

Ortiz enters his final MMA bout with a record of 18-12-1.

"The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" made his debut on May 30, 1997 at UFC 13: Ultimate Force against Wes Albritton. After winning that fight via 31-second TKO, he lost to Guy Mezger later that night by first-round submission in the tournament finals. McCarthy refereed that fight.