Nelson faces fines, suspension for kicking referee

At UFC Fight Night 95, on September 24, 2016, in Brasília, Brazil, heavyweight Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson stopped Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva via strikes in the second. Then he kicked referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy in the hip, walked off and gave him the finger.

Nelson’s frustration was admirable – Big Country and Bigfoot are friends, and he felt that McCarthy waited too long to stop the fight. However, touching the ref is not admirable; it’s wrong in every single combat sport. Nelson later apologized, but “wouldn’t take it back.”

Unfortunately, UFC general manager of Brazil Giovani Decker is an athletic apparel guy, not a fight guy. He didn’t get it.

I think when they’re in the cage, they got a little hotheaded, said Decker to MMAjunkie. And it’s up for the commission to judge them – not the UFC.

Decker has since left his position with the league.

Cristiano Sampaio, director of Brazil’s regulating body, the Comissao Atletica Brasileira de MMA (CABMMA), said the commission needed to hear from the referee. Sampaio later said that the incident will be taken up by Brazil’s Superior Justice Court of Sport, which handles judicial questions pertaining to sports in Brazil. The newly formed Superior Justice Court for MMA (STJDMMA) investigated and will be filed a formal complaint with the STJD.

Now Guilherme Cruz for MMA Fighting reports that Nelson is potentially looking at significant fines and a suspension.

Nelson was notified on Wednesday and issued a 90-day temporary suspension retroactive to Sept. 29. 

The long-time UFC heavyweight could be charged for assaulting the referee (up to $30,000 fine, and six-month to two-year suspension) and unethical behavior (up to $10,000 fine, and 30-day to six-month suspension).

The attorney suggests a 14-month suspension and $18,500 fine, but it’s still up to the president of STJDMMA to evaluate the case. Nelson has seven business days to present his defense, STJDMMA explained.

The $18,500 presumably represents 10% of Nelson’s purse, which is remarkably little considering the offense.