Roy Nelson didn’t get the chance to prove a fat guy could go five rounds, but he did show that a fat guy has serious knockout power.
At The Ultimate Fighter 16 finale, Nelson dropped Matt Mitrione with a hard one-two combination and finished the fight with a barrage of unanswered ground strikes at 2:58 of the first round.
“I was looking to pick him apart in the second and third and show all the critics that a fat boy can go five rounds,” Nelson told UFC commentator Joe Rogan after the fight. “God blessed me with [knockout power]. I used to submit everybody, but when I got my first knockout, I was like, ‘This is so much easier than this wrestling and jiu-jitsu stuff.'”
If the Mitrione bout is any indication, Nelson may never go five rounds. He packs enough power to put any careless heavyweight’s lights out.
The problem for Nelson lies in his ability to win against upper-echelon opposition. Nelson is good at striking, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling, but he isn’t particularly great at any aspect. He is a rugged, well-rounded fighter with a wealth of experience.
Unfortunately, good won’t cut it against world-class fighters in the heavyweight division. Can Nelson find a way to make the necessary adjustments to finally get over the hump?
The heavyweight division is as deep as it’s ever been. Nelson will get a chance to prove to the world that he is a much-improved fighter and a potential contender.
Here are five fights for him to take next.