Longtime MMA broadcaster Mauro Ranallo and retired veteran MMA referee "Big" John McCarthy have been tapped as broadcasters for Affliction's debut event.
The July 19 event, "Affliction: Banned," takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Part of the preliminary card airs live on FSN before the main card kicks off on pay per view.
Ranallo and McCarthy will call one of the year's deepest cards, which includes a main event of former PRIDE holder Fedor Emelianenko vs. former UFC champion Tim Sylvia.
Ranallo, best known for his days broadcasting PRIDE Fighting Championships, currently hosts Fight Network Radio, which is part of Hardcore Sports Radio on Sirius. He also broadcasts EliteXC (and ShoXC) events on Showtime. Additionally, on May 31 he called "EliteXC: PRIMETIME" on CBS, the first-ever live MMA event to air on major U.S. network television.
McCarthy, best known as a UFC referee, officiated 535 fights during his 14 years in the cage. The Los Angeles police officer and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt operates his own MMA school in Valencia, Calif. He currently broadcasts during The Fight Network's coverage of UFC events and makes frequent media appearances.