When most guys are talking about their training camps heading into a big fight, it’s par the course to talk about how they’re feeling great. Roy Nelson is taking a different path.
And would you expect anything less from the man with a big personality to match his beard? Nelson is claiming (per MMA Fighting) that this camp wasn’t all that great.
“This has actually probably been the crappiest camp that I’ve ever had,” Nelson said. “It is what it is.”
Nelson’s boxing coach, Jeff Mayweather, suffered a heart attack and “Big Country” was without some of his best training partners.
I lost Jeff probably about two weeks into camp. I lost (training partner Muhammed ‘King) Mo’ Lawal. I lost Ryan Martinez, because in Bellator he broke his hand. It was just one of those camps where anything possibly that could’ve happened, happened. So you just kind of deal with (it). I mean, I’ve been in the game long enough to know what I’m supposed to do and put the work in. And at the end of the day, that’s what it is.
On one hand I’m not only surprised but encouraged by Nelson’s honesty. It’s nice to hear a fighter be “real” in his pre-fight talk rather than going the simple route of hyping himself and his camp up as the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Fans aren’t the only ones who tire of politically correct lines—media members aren’t fans of it either.
However, this comes off as Nelson already making excuses for a potential loss.
Nelson and his training methods have always been questioned. We’ve seen “Big Country” gas hard and often during his UFC tenure. In his last fight against Stipe Miocic, Nelson was reduced to being nothing more than a moving punching bag.
Many fans were already pegging top contender Daniel Cormier to pick up the win on Saturday night. Expect to see Cormier become even more of a favorite after this news.
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