Big John McCarthy Fight-Worn, Signed Shirt UFC 24 First Defense

UFC 24: First Defense was a MMA event held by the UFC on March 10, 2000 at the Lake Charles Civic Center in Lake Charles, Louisianna.

The event featured the first UFC appearances of Ian Freeman, future UFC Middleweight Champion Dave Menne and Shonie Carter. UFC 24 also featured the first televised appearance of Jens Pulver, who had fought in an untelevised preliminary bout at UFC 22. 

The name “First Defense” refers to a scheduled Heavyweight Title Bout between Kevin Randleman and Pedro Rizzo, which did not happen due to injury. While warming up backstage during the event, Randleman slipped on the concrete floor and hit his head, knocking himself out completely. Randleman was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he was revived, and diagnosed with a concussion. As the incident happened during the broadcast, fans in attendance and viewers watching on pay per view were not notified until the end of the show. The bout was rescheduled and took place at UFC 26.

This black shirt was worn by referee Big John McCarthy in the octagon for several of the match-ups in UFC 24. It come’s directly from Big John’s private collection. The manufacturer tagging in the collar shows it is Body Alive [XL] – the verso also has a custom design from Body Alive. The front chest features the event details – UFC –  First Defense Randleman vs. Rizzo embroidered in white. There is a Body Alive logo embroidered on the back in white.  For authentication it was autographed on the front in silver paint pen by him with the inscription, “UFC 24 WORN – March 10, 2000.

Authentication: 100% Authentic Team Provenance Letter