Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight bruiser Roy Nelson was suspended nine months and fined $24,000 by the Brazilian Superior Justice Court of MMA (STJDMMA) after he kicked John McCarthy at UFC Fight Night 95 for not stopping his knockout finish over Antonio Silva quicker than he preferred.
But after "Big Country" publicly apologized to McCarthy for his actions (see his words here), STDJMMA reduced Nelson’s penalty to a six-month suspension and $13,700 fine, according to MMA Fighting.
Nelson’s actions once again drew the ire of company president Dana White, who stated that Roy needed to be "buried" for putting his hands on an official. Nevertheless, "Big Country" will be able to return to action on March 29, 2017 and has 30 days to pay his fine, as the suspension is retroactive to September 24, 2016, the day of the incident.
Nelson should count his blessings that the Brazilian court had sympathy on him, as others in the past like Jason High had no such luck, as "KC bandit" was outright cut from the promotion after he shoved an official following a loss.