Roy Nelson can forget about looking to UFC President Dana White for support in his decision to apply for the executive director position of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
On Monday, Bloodyelbow.com reported that Nelson applied for former executi…
Roy Nelson can forget about looking to UFC President Dana White for support in his decision to apply for the executive director position of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
On Monday, Bloodyelbow.com reported that Nelson applied for former executive director Keith Kizer’s position. The 37-year-old heavyweight star is starting to look beyond the Octagon and piece together a career after fighting.
After sitting down with his wife, Nelson made the decision to apply for the position in hopes of furthering the sport in his hometown. He also hopes to improve the working relationship between the UFC and the NSAC.
On Tuesday, MMAWeekly’s Erik Fontanez attended a media scrum for UFC 169 held in Los Angeles, where White addressed Nelson’s aspirations of being the new NSAC executive director.
It’s no secret that White has never been a fan of Nelson’s potbelly rubbing, caveman image. ChaelSonnen is often referred to as the biggest trash talker in the UFC, but White has certainly thrown his share of verbal jabs at Nelson’s expense.
In May 2013, White told Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole that Nelson was “not a smart guy” and an “absolute pain in the ass.” A few months later, he scolded the UFC heavyweight for his “nasty, ratty” beard during a media scrum for UFC 162, according to MMAFighting.com.
Unless Nelson is looking to retire from fighting, his goal of heading the NSAC is a bit unrealistic, but it still doesn’t give White any leeway to put down one of his own fighters.
Nelson’s intentions seem honorable for a fighter entering the twilight of his career. He even harped on the idea of helping to improve the rocky relations between the UFC and NSAC.
White could have simply smiled, offered a vote of confidence and moved onto the next question. Instead, he made the decision to put a guy down for having ambitious goals.
Would it really hurt to have shown Nelson a little support?
Roy Nelson has earned a reputation as a joker. But on Monday, word came that he has cast his hat in the ring for one of his profession’s most serious positions.
The active UFC heavyweight, long known as a gadfly to MMA’s power brokers, recently applie…
Roy Nelson has earned a reputation as a joker. But on Monday, word came that he has cast his hat in the ring for one of his profession’s most serious positions.
The active UFC heavyweight, long known as a gadfly to MMA‘s power brokers, recently applied to be the executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. With so many events occurring in Las Vegas, leading the state’s regulatory body is one of the most influential and challenging jobs in combat sports.
Though Nelson is known for a light-hearted personality, the Las Vegas native’s comments seemed to hint that this bid is genuine.
“This is my hometown, it’s where I was born and raised, so I feel it’s a way for me to help further the sport,” Nelson said in the interview with Daniels. “…Of course I want to help get the sport cleaned up, but helping Nevada financially and bringing more revenue in is one of the primary goals I have. The others involve making sure we have better officiating and better fighter safety.”
Nelson’s comments allude to some of the most persistent challenges facing the sport, including topics like brain injuries and inconsistent judging and refereeing.
It is anyone’s guess whether Nelson is serious about the bid. But if it is serious, it is probably fair to say Nelson would enjoy the support of the general MMA public.
A constant fan favorite as a fighter, Nelson is now 37 years old and a loser of two consecutive contests. A heavyweight with an extremely powerful right hand, Nelson (19-9) appeared flat in each of the last two fights, decision losses to Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier.
There is an art to matchmaking in combat sports.
While some fights come together with natural ease, most bouts are formed through a hectic process of evaluation. Several aspects need to be graded on each side of the table before committing to the match…
There is an art to matchmaking in combat sports.
While some fights come together with natural ease, most bouts are formed through a hectic process of evaluation. Several aspects need to be graded on each side of the table before committing to the matchup.
Whether or not a fight makes sense in the divisional scheme, timing and making sure both fighters stand to gain similar rewards are the most pressing issues that come to mind. Then, of course, there is the most important aspect of a potential fight: Will both competitors be willing to mix it up and put on a show?
The unfortunate part of the process comes when all of these criteria are met and the fight fails to deliver. That said, the UFC showcases far more exciting tilts than flat fights these days, which goes to show just how good Joe Silva and Sean Shelby are at their jobs.
In 2013, the UFC has put on one of its most action-packed schedules to date, and with a handful of high-profile cards still on the docket, the year is set to end in spectacular fashion. With UFC president Dana White promising an even busier year in 2014, the cards are going to be coming fast and furious.
In an effort to help the process, this column offers three fights that have the potential to either bolster the divisional picture or be entertaining scraps for the fans to enjoy.
Here is the November lineup for UFC Fantasy Matchmaker.
There is no more popular target for middleweight angst than Michael Bisping. The former The Ultimate Fighter winner seems to get called out on a weekly basis by fighters looking to jump up the divisional ladder. And therein lies the appeal.
Since dropping down from the light heavyweight division in 2008, “The Count” has been a staple in the upper tier at 185 pounds. Three times he’s ascended the ranks to reach title eliminator bouts, and on all three occasions, he was sent back down the ladder. Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort bested the Brit on those nights, but he’s found remarkable success in nearly every other bout without title contention on the line.
That said, the 34-year-old California transplant is aiming for the middleweight crown, but an eye injury suffered during preparation for his last bout put that run on hold for the time being.
In The Count’s absence, former Strikeforce middleweight title challenger Tim Kennedy has taken a few big steps up the divisional ladder. The Green Beret scored a unanimous-decision victory over Roger Gracie in his promotional debut at UFC 162 in July and then followed that up by knocking out Rafael Natal in highlight-reel fashion at UFC Fight for the Troops 3 on Wednesday.
Back-to-back wins have made Kennedy a major player in the middleweight fold, and a bout with Bisping would fit the bill. Whether Bisping agrees with the matchup is a mystery at this point, but a Wednesday night Twitter scramble provided the answers to the question at hand.
Kennedy jump-started the process as he floated a challenge to Bisping over Twitter, to which the Englishman obliged. He told Kennedy if he wanted the fight, he should contact the UFC and tell the brass to set it up for April. The war veteran agreed to the suggestion moments later.
While a potential fight between Bisping and Kennedy makes solid sense in the divisional picture, the underlying grudge match could make for a spectacular buildup to the scrap. Kennedy is sponsored by and keeps a close relationship with the company Ranger Up, which has had tense moments with Bisping in the past.
The majority of the tension was connected to the lead-up and aftermath of the brash middleweight’s throwdown with Jorge Rivera at UFC 127 in February 2011. The back-and-forth in the pre-fight buildup was fierce, and following Bisping’s second-round TKO, he spat in the direction of Rivera’s corner, which lead to him being fined by the UFC.
With all the circumstances and storylines hovering, Bisping vs. Kennedy could be the perfect fight to keep a re-invigorated division rolling into the new year. The fighters have already done the hard work; now it is up to the UFC to make it happen.
Roy Nelson vs. Shawn Jordan
There is no weight class where brick-handed justice is more appreciated than the UFC heavyweight division. It is a collective of huge men who all have the power to settle the opposition with one punch—or well-placed kick—and the heavies do so with great frequency.
It is rare to see two heavyweight fighters reach the final bell. While it does happen from time to time, it is either a testament to the gumption of the fighters involved or the result of two out-of-shape forces of nature partaking in a bout of face-punching where exhaustion was the clear winner after the first round.
Two fighters who embody the best of what the knockout business has to offer are Roy Nelson and Shawn Jordan.
“Big Country” has traded leather with the best of the heavyweight division since winning The Ultimate Fighter in 2010. All six of the former IFL champion’s wins inside the Octagon have come via knockout, as he’s dusted a slew of proven veterans and up-and-comers in the process.
While he’s been defeated on five occasions, all but one victor has been a former champion or current contender. Stipe Miocic at UFC 161 is the only opponent who doesn’t fit that bill as of yet.
The Las Vegas native lost a unanimous decision to Daniel Cormier in his most recent showing at UFC 166 in October, and his loss to “D.C.” put him in the unsavory position of having back-to-back losses. The grizzled veteran has experienced this position twice before in his career, and each time, he’s bounced back with impressive results.
As for Jordan, the 29-year-old former LSU football standout-turned-mixed-martial-artist is looking to break through into the next tier of the heavyweight division. “Savage” looked to be on the fast track up the divisional ladder after his stoppage of Oli Thompson at UFC on FX 2 in March 2012, but Cheick Kongo halted that progress four months later at UFC 149.
The Jackson’s MMA fighter responded to the loss with force, drubbing Mike Russow and Pat Barry in his next two outings. That success had him once again knocking on the door to the next tier of the division, but another setback suffered at the hands of Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 166 put those hopes on ice for the time being.
A bout between Nelson and Jordan makes perfect sense, as both are in positional limbo in the heavyweight division. Nelson has proved to be Top 10 material but has stumbled in big fights, and he is potentially on the verge of losing his upper-tier status in the weight class.
As for Jordan, he’s already shown he’s too good to hang around the prospect level of the division, but he has faltered every time his opportunity to take a jump up has been front and center. A battle between the two heavy-handed knockout artists would serve a purpose for both and would guarantee excitement for the fans.
Raphael Assuncao vs. Eddie Wineland
The bantamweight division has been in disarray for the majority of the past year, with only a handful of fighters keeping the pulse alive in the weight class.
That said, things will be shaping up in a big way in the coming months. Urijah Faber and Michael McDonald are set to throw down at UFC on Fox 9 in December, and the long-awaited bantamweight title unification clash between champion Dominick Cruz and interim strapholder Renan Barao is slated for UFC 169 in February.
Two fighters who are looking to stay in the hunt for the bantamweight crown are WEC vets-turned-UFC-contenders Raphael Assuncao and Eddie Wineland.
The well-rounded Brazilian has been on fire since dropping down to the 135-pound weight class. Assuncao has collected five consecutive victories in the bantamweight fold and has built a solid case for title contention in the process. His most recent win came in razor-thin fashion, but it was impressive nonetheless, as he edged out Team Alpha Male’s T.J. Dillashaw during their tilt at Fight Night 29 in October.
Putting together five straight is typically enough to earn a shot in any division under the UFC banner, but the 135-pound weight class hasn’t been running full steam. Both belts are now locked up until early 2014, and with Faber and McDonald battling for another shot at the title, Assuncao is at least another fight away from getting an opportunity.
Wineland is in a similar position. After picking up victories over Brad Pickett and Scott Jorgensen, the Indiana native earned a fight against interim champion Barao. They were originally slated to square off at UFC 161 in June, but a Barao injury forced the tilt back to UFC 165 in September.
The first man to hold the WEC bantamweight title finally had UFC gold in his sights; unfortunately, it wasn’t his night in Toronto. Barao landed a spinning back kick in the second round that put Wineland on the canvas and spelled the beginning of the end for the title challenger. Wineland was furious with the stoppage, and the missed opportunity sent him to the back of the bantamweight pack.
That said, the 135-pound collective isn’t jam-packed with contenders at the moment, which should benefit Wineland. He’s coming fresh off a title shot and would need to face a solid opponent to remain in the race.
Assuncao fits that description.
With Wineland’s recent title bid, he carries just the right amount of name recognition that the Atlanta-based Assuncao needs to continue his climb to the top.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
The UFC should go back and rename UFC 166 as “The Night of Denial.”
It started when Junior Dos Santos, clearly still suffering from the beating he received from Cain Velasquez, claimed Velasquez wasn’t the better fighter.
Now, it’s continuing with Roy …
The UFC should go back and rename UFC 166 as “The Night of Denial.”
It started when Junior Dos Santos, clearly still suffering from the beating he received from Cain Velasquez, claimed Velasquez wasn’t the better fighter.
Big Country spoke with FightHub TV about the fight and believes he was simply outpointed by his UFC 166 opponent, Daniel Cormier.
I just got out pointed. It’s nothing against Daniel. You know, Daniel (had an) excellent game plan. Played it to a T. I just wish I had two more rounds. That’s about it. Daniel won that night, he was the better guy. I’d definitely like to do a rematch. I’d fight anybody that I ever lost to.
I’m not sure how Nelson wants to classify his UFC 166 loss as being simply being outpointed. Cormier beat Nelson in every facet of MMA. He beat him on the feet, beat him on the mat and beat him in every area in between.
Also, almost as comical, is the fact that Nelson wanted two more rounds of fighting. I must’ve missed the part where Nelson was a cardio machine or wins fights that go beyond the first round.
If there were two more rounds, it would’ve been 10 more minutes of watching a one-sided fight, something nobody wants to be a part of.
Nelson has only one weapon and that’s his overhand right. The chances of him landing it get increasingly slimmer as the seconds tick by, and it was clear DC wasn’t going to fall into his trap.
Yes, Nelson didn’t end up a bloody mess, but it’s pretty clear Cormier won the fight inside the Octagon at UFC 166.
To put it bluntly, UFC 166 was the kind of faith-restoring UFC event that effectively silenced even the most cynical of the sport’s detractors (henceforth known as “garbage-assers“). Featuring a trio of wars and a pair of brutal first round finishes on the main card alone, UFC 166 staked its claim as an early frontrunner for “Event of the Year” at this year’s Potato Awards and will likely achieve the same notoriety at awards ceremonies that actually transpire.
Thankfully, FOX Sports has compiled some highlight videos of the evening’s greatest slugfests and made them available for viewing on their Youtube page. Although these snippets won’t fill the bottomless void created in the soul of, say, your friend Dave who insisted on skipping UFC 166 to attend a Lady Gaga concert with his bitch of a girlfriend, they will give you the chance to confirm that Dave is a tiny, tin-eared man who lacks intestinal fortitude and any semblance of deductive reasoning. Fucking Dave.
We’ve placed the highlight video for Velasquez/Dos Santos III above, but join us after the jump to relive the rest of what was truly a historic night for both the UFC and MMA in general.
To put it bluntly, UFC 166 was the kind of faith-restoring UFC event that effectively silenced even the most cynical of the sport’s detractors (henceforth known as “garbage-assers“). Featuring a trio of wars and a pair of brutal first round finishes on the main card alone, UFC 166 staked its claim as an early frontrunner for “Event of the Year” at this year’s Potato Awards and will likely achieve the same notoriety at awards ceremonies that actually transpire.
Thankfully, FOX Sports has compiled some highlight videos of the evening’s greatest slugfests and made them available for viewing on their Youtube page. Although these snippets won’t fill the bottomless void created in the soul of, say, your friend Dave who insisted on skipping UFC 166 to attend a Lady Gaga concert with his bitch of a girlfriend, they will give you the chance to confirm that Dave is a tiny, tin-eared man who lacks intestinal fortitude and any semblance of deductive reasoning. Fucking Dave.
We’ve placed the highlight video for Velasquez/Dos Santos III above, but join us after the jump to relive the rest of what was truly a historic night for both the UFC and MMA in general.
Roy “Big Country” Nelson had his chance to earn a shot at the UFC heavyweight title in the next year. Instead, he lost a lopsided decision against a man who is working to move to light heavyweight.
Daniel Cormier out-boxed Nelson and proved to be a sup…
Roy “Big Country” Nelson had his chance to earn a shot at the UFC heavyweight title in the next year. Instead, he lost a lopsided decision against a man who is working to move to light heavyweight.
Daniel Cormier out-boxed Nelson and proved to be a superior grappler en route to defeating Big Country. He subsequently expressed his desire to move to the 205-pound division in his next fight, according to ESPN.com’s Franklin McNeil.
Nelson couldn’t land his big right hand, and without that weapon he looked helpless. The stamina bug also seemed to bite him late in the fight. When you consider the fact that the fight was just a three-round affair, it makes you wonder how well Nelson would perform in a five-round main event.
In his UFC career, Nelson has never been beyond the third round. Now he must head to the back of the line in the heavyweight ranks. At 37 years old, Nelson doesn’t have a great deal of time to climb the ladder again.
The loss on Saturday night was a huge setback.
C.B. DollawayDidn’t Make Any Fans in Houston
In a spirited battle with Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch, Dollaway did his best Nate Diaz impersonation. He taunted Boetsch defiantly and egged his opponent on with trash talk. That wasn’t the worst aspect of his performance, though.
On two occasions, Dollaway poked Boetsch in the eyes. The first one was the most severe and appeared to be accidental. But the second instance had to leave fans scratching their heads. Dollaway repeatedly attempted to fend off Boetsch with an open hand. At the very least, the second eye poke looked like it could have been avoided.
Referee Kerry Hatley apparently agreed, as he took a point from Dollaway after the second foul. In the end, Boetsch was awarded a split-decision victory. The judging in the fight was peculiar. It seemed Dollaway won the first round. It was possible to score the second even, though Dollaway could have won that one as well.
The Barbarian won the third—even without the point deduction—so awarding him the win isn’t totally preposterous. However, depending on how you scored the second round, an argument could be made that Dollaway deserved the win, or a draw.
In any case, karma says Dollaway deserved to lose after his controversial eye pokes.
Nate “Not-So-Great” Marquardt
The end is near for Marquardt—at least it should be. Hector Lombard did look like the beast most had expected him to be when he made his UFC debut in 2012. Still, Marquardt backpedaled the entire fight, and it was clear a KO stoppage was inevitable from the start.
Marquardt is 34 years old, and he’s been competing in the UFC since 2005. The loss to Lombard was his third in a row and second straight by KO.
Marquardt has been in with names like ChaelSonnen, YushinOkami, Jake Ellenberger, Anderson Silva, Jeremy Horn and others; but it is in his best interest to call it a career.
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Roy Nelson can forget about looking to UFC President Dana White for support in his decision to apply for the executive director position of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.