Nelson receives 9-month suspension, fine for getting physical with official

Roy Nelson's nudge of referee "Big" John McCarthy is proving to be the most costly strike of his career.

The Brazilian Superior Justice Court of MMA (STJDMMA) handed Nelson a nine-month suspension and a $24,000 fine Wednesday for a physical exchange with McCarthy following his bout with Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, according to Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting.

The incident occurred at UFC Fight Night 95 in Brasilia, Brazil on Sept. 24 when the veteran heavyweight delivered a post-fight "push kick" to McCarthy's behind in protest of what he believed to be a late stoppage. Nelson won the fight by knockout, but he had to dish out several unanswered punches on the ground before the bout was officially waved off.

At the time, Nelson openly expressed his displeasure with McCarthy for not intervening sooner.

"I didn't want to hurt Bigfoot more than I had to," said Nelson. "And I got taken by the moment, because it's like, I'm beating the s--- out of somebody and you're like, dude, enough is enough. And for me, it hurt my feelings.

"And I apologize to Big John, but I wouldn't take it back. It just hurt me, that I've got to keep on hitting a guy that doesn't need to be hit."

If Nelson issues a more thorough apology before Dec. 31, the STJDMMA will lower his suspension to six months and his fine to $13,700. The suspension is retroactive to Sept. 29, meaning the best-case scenario makes Nelson eligible to compete again as early as March.