Dana criticizes Nelson for kicking a referee: 'Despicable and disgusting'

Nelson caused controversy in UFC Brasilia. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

UFC President Dana White scathingly disapproved of the heavyweight Roy Nelson for the kick he gave the referee after his victory over Antonio Pezão, on the main card of UFC Brasilia, last Saturday (24). However, the director disagreed when asked if the organization would take any action in the matter.

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Summary reports Roy Nelson's attacks on referee Big John McCarthy

Nelson knocked out Pezão, his close friend, in the second round of the duel. The American considered that the fight referee, “Big” John McCarthy, took too long to stop the actions. Thus, after the fight ended, Nelson kicked McCarthy, in addition to swearing and making obscene gestures.

White declared that Nelson crossed the line with his attitude. “You can’t apologize for that. You can never, ever lay hands or feet on the referee. For whatever reason, this is not done. He needs to be buried. He wanted to push [the referee], showed the finger and cursed. If you want to swear, you can never touch the referee. Never”, he said, in conversation with the “UFC Unfiltered” podcast.

When asked what he was referring to when he said that Nelson “needs to be buried”, White clarified that the UFC will not take any action on the matter – the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission, the body responsible for supervising the show, will decide on the athlete's punishment. “It will be the Athletic Commission. I have traveled a lot since the fight and I haven't seen what is happening, but if the Brazilian Commission doesn't do anything, it will be terrible. You can't touch the referee, regardless of the circumstances. Big John has been in this business longer than Roy Nelson, and he was attending to Pezão at that time. It was despicable, disgusting and cannot happen,” he continued.

In 2014, the UFC fired lightweight Jason High for shoving referee Kevin Mulhall moments after being knocked out by Rafael dos Anjos. At the time, White stated that he had no doubts about High's dismissal and said that the athlete would never return to his organization.

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