When the UFC visits Staples Center in Los Angeles on Oct. 24 for "UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun," the organization will be making its first trip to California since July 2007 and its first visit to Los Angeles since May 2006.

Could the event also mark the return of veteran referee "Big" John McCarthy to the UFC for the first time since officiating the December 2007 bout between Roger Huerta and Clay Guida?

McCarthy is currently licensed as an MMA referee in the state of California, and today he told MMAjunkie.com he would be available for the October event should the commission assign him to the card.