Referee John McCarthy got more than he bargained for when he stepped in to stop a fight at the UFC event in Brazil on this day nine years ago.
The UFC is currently fast approaching its next visit to Brazil, as fan favorite Charles Oliveira headlines in Rio de Janeiro on October 11.
After the withdrawal of Rafael Fiziev, Oliveira will now fight Mateusz Gamrot at Farmasi Arena, with ‘Do Bronx’ looking to immediately bounce back from his title loss to Ilia Topuria in front of his home fans.
In the years since first arriving in the South American country, the UFC has had plenty of memorable moments. One of the most shocking took place in 2016, when ‘Big Country’ was less than pleased with the third man inside the Octagon…
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Roy Nelson kicked John McCarthy after knocking out ‘Bigfoot’ Silva at UFC Brasilia
On this day, September 24, 2016, UFC Brasilia took place at the Ginasio Nilson Nelson arena. The main event saw MMA legend Cris Cyborg finish Lina Lansberg in round two, while the likes of Renan Barao, Francisco Trinaldo, and Vicente Luque also picked up wins.
The biggest talking point, however, surrounded the main card heavyweight fight between Roy ‘Big Country’ Nelson and Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva. Nelson knocked out Silva in round two, marking the third defeat on a brutal losing skid for the Brazilian that featured 11 straight setbacks across multiple sports and promotions.
‘Big Country’ was clearly irate after the stoppage, believing referee John McCarthy stepped in far too late, forcing him to continue hitting a man Nelson described as his friend.
The American heavyweight was so furious, in fact, that he walked over and kicked the veteran official as he tended to the defeated Silva on the ground.
“We had a conversation in the cage,” Nelson said during the post-fight press conference. “I was like, ‘Dude, he was knocked out.’ And (McCarthy) was like, ‘No, he wasn’t.’
“I’m like, dude, I know what a knockout is. I knock people out. That’s what I do for a living,” Nelson continued. “It just hurt me that I’ve got to keep on hitting a guy that doesn’t need to be hit.”
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Roy Nelson apologized to John McCarthy for post-fight kick but ‘wouldn’t take it back’
Nelson did not get off scot-free after the kick. He was initially suspended for nine months and fined $24,000 by the Brazilian Superior Justice Court of MMA.
That punishment was later reduced to a $13,700 fine and six-month suspension after ‘Big Country’ formally apologized to McCarthy.
But while he may have said sorry for his actions, Nelson would not take his kick at McCarthy back.
“It was a push,” Nelson said. “It was more of like, ‘Dude, come on.’
“I apologize to ‘Big’ John, but I wouldn’t take it back,” he added.