My first article for The Fight Network is up and can be found here. It covers Strikeforce lightweight champion, Gilbert Melendez (right), as he prepares for his bout against Mitsuhiro Ishida at the Yarennoka! “Can’t We Do It! New Year’s Eve! 2007” event on Monday, Dec. 31 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The show will air live in the United States on HDNet.

Melendez also discusses the health of his right hand (he reinjured it in hist last bout against Tetsuji Kato at the “Strikeforce at the Playboy Mansion” show in September) and a rumored bout against Josh Thomson for the Strikeforce lightweight title at Strikeforce 8 on March 29, 2008.

The worst kept secret in combat sports was officially announced earlier today. “Big” John McCarthy, the world’s most recognized mixed martial arts referee, is joining The Fight Network as an on-air personality and strategic advisor.

McCarthy is hanging up his legendary black outfit after 14 years of overseeing MMA matches across the world – most notably for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

“As I enter a new chapter in my life, I look forward to demonstrating my love and passion for the MMA world in my new role at The Fight Network,” said McCarthy. “It’s a perfect fit for me and I can’t wait to get started.”

When his career inside the cage is complete, McCarthy will have worked in 535 bouts and 100 championship fights dating back to UFC 2 on March 11, 1994 in Denver, Colorado.

The retired 22-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department had been working as a part-time analyst for The Fight Network on their “After The Bell” MMA recap shows but will now join the network full-time. His first official on-air duty will come next Friday night alongisde Mauro Ranallo as an analyst on The Fight Network’s coverage of TKO 31: Young Guns from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.

“Big John has become a preeminent personality in the game,” said George Burger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Fight Network, “and his presence and depth of knowledge will take our industry leading coverage of the sport to a new level, to everyone’s benefit. It is great to have him on the team.”

Fans will have one last chance to hear McCarthy scream his patented “let’s get it on” tomorrow night at “The Ultimate Fighter Finale” on Spike TV (9 PM/ET).

What a thrill it was to be a guest on Fight Network Radio earlier today. Host Mauro Ranallo and I discussed a laundry list of topics from the combat sports world and even a little Montreal Expos history! Nos Amours, my friends, will never be forgotten.

Anyhow, in case you were too busy watching NFL Football or, I don’t know, spending time with family and friends over a nice Thanksgiving meal and missed it you can listen to the interview below.

A final thank you to John Pollock and Mauro Ranallo for giving JarryPark.com (and myself) the rub. I hope to meet up with them again soon and, most importantly, return the favor some day.

(By the way, be sure to check out all things Fight Network on their official site and to listen to Fight Network Radio on Sirius 186 or via the Hardcore Sports Radio website.)

Ariel Helwani on FNR – 11/22/07

A friendly reminder that I will be a guest on The Fight Network radio show on Sirius channel 186 tomorrow (Thursday) at 3:10 p.m. EST. If you don’t have Sirius, you can listen to the interview and the entire show online via the Hardcore Sports Radio website.

At the risk of sounding like the biggest mark ever, I will just say that I am sincerely honored and excited to join Mauro Ranallo and John Pollock on their show. For my money, they are the best in the business.

Who knows…maybe this will even become a Thanskgiving tradition? Perhaps every year before stuffing your face with food you can huddle around the radio with your loved ones to listen to us discuss the best combat sports stories around. Deal? Deal.