Roy Nelson comments on kicking referee 'Big' John McCarthy
Roy Nelson comments on kicking a referee after a match.
Earlier this year one of the most controversial moments in the year of mixed martial arts (MMA) went down after Roy Nelson’s victory over Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva in Brazil this past September, when ‘Big Country’ kicked referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy after the bout’s conclusion as he believed the fight was stopped way too late.
As a result Nelson was suspended nine months and slapped with a hefty $24,000 fine for his actions by the Brazilian Superior Justice Court of MMA (STJDMMA), however, they would give the 40-year-old heavyweight a chance to reduce his punishment to a six-month suspension and $13,700 fine with a formal apology to Mr. McCarthy inside the Octagon or during a press event, with a deadline of December 31st.
Earlier today (Friday December 2, 2016) Nelson issued his official statement apologizing for the incident, which you can watch here, calling his actions against McCarthy ‘out of character’:
“First I’d like to apologize to the fans who make our sport,” Nelson told a group of reporters in Las Vegas. “To the Brazilian commission, John McCarthy and the rest of the world, my team and especially my family for my actions in my last fight.
“My actions were out of character. I have nothing against anyone, including John McCarthy. I recognize what I did was a mistake and I was wrong. I can’t apologize enough to John McCarthy, to the commission, and to MMA fans around the world. I can’t wait to get back into the Octagon to entertain the fans.”
The STJDMMA has announced to MMA Fighting that they will decide next week whether or not Nelson’s public apology met the criteria for a reduced fine and suspension. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.
More from FanSided
This article originally appeared on 
