Jon Jones' team has 'concerns' with John McCarthy refereeing UFC 200 main event

Veteran referee "Big" John McCarthy will oversee the UFC 200 main-event fight between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones, but apparently, the team of Jon Jones is not too happy with that fact. Jones' manager Malki Kawa has filed an official complaint to the Nevada Athletic Commission, trying to get McCarthy replaced by another referee, according to NAC executive director Bob Bennett.

"Earlier this morning, I did receive at 8:18 an e-mail from the Jones camp, from Mr. (Malki) Kawa, expressing his concerns regarding referee John McCarthy in this fight," Bennett said. "Upon review of his complaints or his concerns, I did some research, and I certainly respect the comments that he made, but I do not think they are significant enough to deter me from moving from my initial recommendation." (via MMAFighting.com)

Bennett didn't go into detail on which comments Kawa has made exactly, so the reasoning behind his complaint stays unclear. McCarthy has refereed only three bouts in Jones' 17-fight UFC career, at UFC 140 (versus Lyoto Machida), UFC 152 (versus Vitor Belfort) and UFC 165 (versus Alexander Gustafsson). The first encounter between Jones and Cormier at 182 last year was refereed by Herb Dean.

The rematch between Jones and Cormier will headline UFC 200 on July 9.