In a recent episode of their podcast, MMA veterans Josh Thomson and “Big” John McCarthy engaged in a spirited debate over whether Jon Jones deserves a place in the UFC Hall of Fame despite his history with PED violations.
The conversation became heated when Thomson questioned Jones’ worthiness for Hall of Fame induction, stating, “If you’re a cheater, I don’t think you do [belong in the Hall of Fame].”
McCarthy, however, took a different stance, defending Jones’ place in UFC history. He argued that Jones had already faced consequences for his actions, asking, “Did he get penalized for it? Yeah, he did.”
The former referee pushed back on Thomson’s suggestion that stars with PED violations should have asterisks next to their names in the Hall of Fame. “There should be no asterisks,” McCarthy insisted.
The debate highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding Jones, widely considered one of the greatest MMA competitors of all time but whose career has been marred by multiple PED testing issues. Jones has tested positive for banned substances multiple times throughout his career, resulting in suspensions and having a title victory overturned.
Despite these controversies, Jones has maintained his dominance in the octagon, recently capturing the UFC heavyweight championship after moving up from light heavyweight, where he had a record-setting reign as champion.
The debate was especially interesting considering McCarthy backed Vitor Belfort and even claimed that Belfort never did anything illegal – which might be technically true.
Veteran MMA referee “Big” John McCarthy has defended Vitor Belfort amid criticism surrounding his UFC Hall of Fame induction, addressing long-standing allegations of PED use. On his podcast with Josh Thomson, McCarthy clarified that Belfort’s use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) occurred during a period when it was permitted by athletic commissions and that Belfort never attempted to hide it. He pushed back against detractors who diminish Belfort’s achievements, noting that while the star may have used PEDs earlier in his career, they were not banned at the time. Despite Thomson’s skepticism, McCarthy maintained that Belfort’s legacy—including a UFC Light Heavyweight title and iconic knockouts—justifies his Hall of Fame status.
