Nelson facing sanctions for shoving ref post-stoppage

Being a bleeding heart isn't all it's cracked up to be, just ask Roy Nelson.

The longtime UFC heavyweight will have to answer for his push kick of referee John McCarthy immediately following his second-round knockout of Antonio Silva at UFC Fight Night 95 in Brasilia on Saturday. The incident will be reviewed by Brazil's Superior Justice Court of Sport, according to Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) rep Cristiano Sampaio.

"Even though CABMMA understands Roy Nelson’s ‘frustration’ in that situation due to his close relationship with his opponent, that does not justify his act and can open a serious and dangerous precedent in the sport. We, as the regulation body of MMA in Brazil and member of the Association of Boxing Commissions, will not tolerate such conduct."

Nelson shoved McCarthy with his foot and flipped him the bird for what he perceived to be a late stoppage in Saturday's fight.

"Big Country" explained post-fight that he and Silva were friends and he didn't want inflict any excessive damage, as "Bigfoot" had already been knocked out - at least in Nelson's eyes - by the time he hit the canvas.

At the post-fight presser, the 40-year-old said he'd patched things up with McCarthy, but that he did not regret his actions.

The last UFC fighter to lay his hands on a referee, lightweight Jason High, was promptly handed his walking papers. High had lost by TKO to Rafael dos Anjos in June 2014, shoving referee Kevin Mulhall for what he deemed an early stoppage.

The UFC has not revealed if and how they'll handle Nelson's post-fight shenanigans.

- With h/t to Bloody Elbow