Roy Nelson stirred up controversy when he lightly kicked referee Big John McCarthy at UFC Fight Night 95 in September.
‘Big Country’ knocked out Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva in the second round and felt that McCarthy, a veteran referee of 22 years, issued a late stoppage. Nelson push-kicked McCarthy from behind and flipped him off during the post-fight formalities.
Fortunately McCarthy wasn’t hurt -- in fact, he barely even felt the kick -- but The Brazilian Superior Justice Court of MMA (STJDMMA) handed Nelson a nine-month suspension and $24,000 fine for unethical conduct.
The court was willing to reduce Nelson’s suspension and fine if he made a public apology to McCarthy by December 31.