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Stop with the Silly Talk: Roy Nelson Isn’t Going Anywhere

It’s no secret that UFC president Dana White and Roy Nelson aren’t the best of friends.That’s an understatement, of course. Nelson has irked White for years, dating back to the days before “Big Country” was even in the UFC.White gets along famously wit…

It’s no secret that UFC president Dana White and Roy Nelson aren’t the best of friends.

That’s an understatement, of course. Nelson has irked White for years, dating back to the days before “Big Country” was even in the UFC.

White gets along famously with just about everyone—unless you happen to run a mixed martial arts company that represents a threat to the UFC’s global dominance in the sport—but there’s just something about Nelson that’s always made White a little hot under the collar.

There was a time, in fact, when most observers of the sport believed that Nelson would never get his chance in the UFC due to his rough relationship with White. The fact that he was forced to enter The Ultimate Fighter house and win his way into the UFC despite being a seasoned veteran lends a hefty dose of credibility to that idea.

Today, even though Nelson has been in the UFC since 2009 and even though he’s one of the most popular fighters on the roster with a penchant for stunning knockouts and exciting fights, that relationship remains unchanged.

White still doesn’t like Nelson, and he isn’t shy about expressing his opinion.

A few weeks ago, White sarcastically referred to Nelson as “the smartest man on Earth” during a media scrum that Bleacher Report attended. Nelson, being a savvy businessman, immediately had a batch of t-shirts made up in record time that featured the expression and attributed it to White.

When asked if he believed Nelson was trying to drum up support as an anti-authority figure from those in the UFC’s fanbase that dislike White, the UFC president told Yahoo Sports that wasn’t the case:

He’s not doing that. He’s not. It’s nothing he’s thought about and is intentionally trying to do. He’s not that smart. Let’s be honest. He’s just not a smart guy. He’s just that guy who is irritating. He thinks he’s smart, but he’s an absolute pain in the ass.

He jumped up on the Octagon [after beating Kimbo Slice] and said to me, ‘Go get me a Whopper,’ as if Burger King or McDonald’s would ever want to have a guy who looks like that endorsing [its] product. He think’s he’s funny, but to me, he’s an idiot.

I will never understand White’s need to mock fighters on his own roster. He’s generally very good at building up the guys who represent his company, even to the point where we sometimes roll our eyes when he’s trying to sell someone who doesn’t deserve a title shot.

It doesn’t happen that often, mind you. It happened with Tito Ortiz when he and White were feuding, and it happens with Nelson today.

But if you ask me, that’s two cases too many. Nelson may not have White’s ideal body type, but who cares? If he delivers in the cage and builds up popularity with fans, you should be looking to capitalize on that, not trying to hurt Nelson’s reputation.

He’s an asset, and he’s not being treated as one. I’m not saying he’s in Georges St-Pierre or Anderson Silva’s class as a pay-per-view draw, but he’s certainly one of the most popular fighters in the heavyweight division.

Some have pointed to White’s comments, and the fact that Nelson is going into the final fight of his contract at UFC 161, as a reason the UFC president might cut “Big Country” loose even if he wins.

And I’m here to tell you right now: Despite the things that White says about Nelson in public, and despite his distaste for Nelson’s body type, there’s simply no chance that Nelson will be cut or released or not signed to a new contract after his fight with Stipe Miocic, even if he loses.

White has disliked Nelson for a long time. If he wanted to cut him, he could have done so after Nelson lost his first UFC fight to Junior dos Santos. Or when he lost the next bout to Frank Mir. Nelson lost two fights in a row and still retained his job, despite White constantly belittling him in front of the media and fans.

If White didn’t feel the need to release Nelson after two consecutive losses, why would he cut him now, when he’s won three fights in a row and when his popularity is growing with each big knockout?

Sure, Nelson will have to sign a new contract. And he’ll probably get a hefty raise from the meager $24,000 purse he’s received since winning The Ultimate Fighter. But even if the UFC has to pay Nelson $150,000 or more on his new contract, it’ll gladly do so, because Nelson is a legitimate star and potential contender for a big heavyweight title fight.

Yes, I said Nelson is a potential contender for the heavyweight title, and I meant it.

He’ll need to beat a top contender before he gets to that point, because White isn’t going to make things easy on him. But if Nelson beats Miocic and then knocks out someone ranked in the top five, it’d be virtually impossible not to put Nelson against the champion.

What it all comes down to is value. The UFC is a star-driven organization that focuses on building up names that can bring eyeballs to pay-per-view events. And whether White likes him or not, Nelson is a valuable commodity for the promotion. He’s popular and can’t seem to have anything but exciting fights.

That’s an asset, and the UFC will make every effort to keep him in the organization, no matter how White feels about Nelson’s personality.

To think anything otherwise is ludicrous.

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UFC 161 Has Little Left to Justify Pay-Per-View Cost

With Antonio Rogerio Nogueira bowing out of the co-main event being only the latest loss to the show, the UFC 161: Henderson vs. Evans event is lacking in true intrigue for casual fans. A last-ditch effort to add Chael Sonnen could do some good in keep…

If Sonnen officially comes to the rescue to take on Mauricio Rua in the co-main event, it might marginally assist in the sales totals, but not enough. So far, the fight has not been made official, with Sonnen issuing a challenge via his Twitter account, according to BloodyElbow.com.

Sonnen would add much-needed name recognition to the co-main event; however, he and Rua have a combined 2-4 record in their last six bouts. That record will dictate the way the two come into the fight. Both will be interested in not losing, rather than making a brutal statement.

What is more, Sonnen will undoubtedly want the fight on the ground, and unless Shogun has rededicated himself to amazing takedown defense, a three-round struggle underneath the Oregonian is most likely the outcome of the bout.

The headliner itself has a large question mark over it, which may turn away would-be buyers. Both Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans are inconsistently exciting. Henderson is capable of being one of the most exciting fighters in the sport. At the same time, his most recent fight with Lyoto Machida brought back memories of the ‘Decision Dan’ all Pride FC fans can recall vividly.

A five-round fight could mean Henderson opts to circle for 25 minutes with his right hand cocked, while defending takedowns.

Evans has already said he is not interested in a stand-up war with Hendo, according to MMAMania.com. A takedown-heavy effort could be the likely outcome of the main event. It is possible that if the two do not engage in a striking war, the fight will gather a torrent of boos by the ending bell.

Beyond the main events, the card holds interesting matchups for the most dedicated fans, while providing almost nothing to spur casual fans into shelling out hard-earned cash.

Roy Nelson is prepared to prove he deserves consideration in the heavyweight division as he looks for a fourth-straight win. Unfortunately for Nelson, Stipe Miocic only provides a chance to prove he can win two fights in short order. Miocic, as good as he is, is not considered an elite fighter by most.

The Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan bout would usually be considered a surefire barnburner, except that Barry has been keen on proving he has a new-found ground game, while Jordan will be looking to simply not lose.

Finally, while the women of the UFC consistently prove that they can put on the most exciting fights on each card, casual fans simply have not shown interest. A strong showing in the Sexton vs. Davis bout will only serve as a pleasant surprise. However, the pairing will not add pay-per-view buys.

All told, the card simply has lost its worth as a must-see showcase, and the pay-per-view buys will likely reflect that fact. The UFC can only hope the late addition of Sonnen can trick some fans into assuming the card is worth the price of viewing.

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UFC 161: 5 Reasons Why Roy Nelson May Get Cut Next, Win or Lose

Generally, fighters in the UFC aren’t supposed to look like Roy Nelson.Not in modern-day MMA, at least.Today, if fighters are competing in the UFC’s heaviest division, they usually don’t have beards resembling a coral reef or a profile that looks like …

Generally, fighters in the UFC aren’t supposed to look like Roy Nelson.

Not in modern-day MMA, at least.

Today, if fighters are competing in the UFC’s heaviest division, they usually don’t have beards resembling a coral reef or a profile that looks like “Santa Claus on a bender.” And they’re typically not lugging around huge, sagging beer bellies.

But despite it all, “Big Country” has survived in the world’s biggest fight promotion—on the strength of an iron chin, one-punch knockout power and an improbable run on The Ultimate Fighter.

And sadly, Nelson’s UFC run may come to an end after his next match.

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Dana White on Roy Nelson: “He’s an Absolute Pain in the Ass”

The love/hate relationship between UFC president Dana White and his troublesome heavyweight Roy Nelson continues, as a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports suggests White still thinks Nelson is the most irritating thing in MMA. This despite Nelson, who …

This despite Nelson, who today stands as somewhat of a cult hero in the sport, racking up three straight wins in recent UFC appearances.

White told Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports that he hasn’t precluded Nelson from a possible title fight. However, the fighter still hasn’t done enough to endear himself to his boss.

“Roy loves to say I’ll never give him a title shot,” White said. “But dude, beat someone and then I’ll give you the shot. Roy is knocking off these guys ranked six through 10, but when he gets to fighting the top five guys, he can’t do the same thing. You’re not going to get a title shot for beating No. 6 and No. 8. You have to beat the top guys.”

The tempestuous relationship between White and Nelson dates back to “Big Country’s” stint on The Ultimate Fighter in 2009, the reality show Nelson eventually won.

From the very beginning, White had few kind words for the Las Vegas native, according to The Examiner, calling him a “moron,” an “idiot” and “dumb.”

How ironic then that Nelson has since begun selling T-shirts on his website with a quote from White which exclaims that Big Country is “The Smartest Guy on Earth.”

White set the record straight that the comment was made sarcastically, adding that Nelson’s whole “schtick”—the protruding belly, the mullet haircut and the grotesquely overgrown beard—was not an attempt to promote himself as a counter-culture figure in an attempt to curry favour with fans who hate White.

“He’s not doing that,” White said. “He’s not. It’s nothing he’s thought about and is intentionally trying to do. He’s not that smart. Let’s be honest. He’s just not a smart guy. He’s just that guy who is irritating. He thinks he’s smart, but he’s an absolute pain in the ass.

“He jumped up on the Octagon [after beating Kimbo Slice] and said to me, ‘Go get me a Whopper,’ as if Burger King or McDonald’s would ever want to have a guy who looks like that endorsing [its] product. He thinks he’s funny, but to me, he’s an idiot.”

Nelson, for his part, seems unfazed by this public feud with his boss. He believes that, as a fighter, he’s a commodity that can’t be easily replaced.

“If there was another Roy Nelson, OK, but there is not… We’re not a dime a dozen. Very few people can do what we can do. Very few,” said Nelson.

Nelson’s recent win over Cheick Kongo, his third first-round KO/TKO in a row, has put him into the top five, but that’s still a long way from the title as far as White is concerned.

White said that he’ll only earn a shot if he beats another top five heavyweight, which certainly won’t happen after Nelson faces Stipe Miocic on June 15, 2013 at UFC 161—an opponent who isn’t even in the top 10.

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Booking Roundup: Uriah Hall Draws Nick Ring for UFC on FOX Sports 1:1, Soa Palelei’s Return Finally Set

(Hall attempts the infamous “Cover Your Eyes and Pray the Scary Monster Goes Away” defense to no avail at the TUF 17 Finale. Photo via Getty Images.)

Perhaps the only thing more dangerous than accepting a coaching gig on The Ultimate Fighter is being heralded by Dana White as “the next Anderson Silva” while still participating on the reality show. Ten seasons ago, it was Phillipe Nover who drew the unjust and bombastic comparisons to the pound-for-pound king. Though a loss to Efrain Escudero — who would also become one of the show’s more notorious washouts — in the season’s finale may have not derailed his hype train entirely, his consecutive losses to Kyle Bradley (ouch.) and Robert Emerson (OH COME ON!) surely did. But just as every story has a happy ending, Nover now earns his living pushing the stretchers, not lying on them.

This past season, we were similarly informed that Uriah Hall was “the nastiest guy in Ultimate Fighter history,” and told by Chael Sonnen himself that Hall was not only at Silva’s level, but above it. To be fair, there was plenty of visual evidence to lend credence to this claim, but that didn’t stop newcomer Kelvin Gastelum from spoiling Hall’s championship run before it could even begin at the season’s finale.

In any case, if Hall doesn’t want to end up changing bedpans for crotchety geezers in the future (not that there’s anything wrong with that), he better bring his A-game when he meets fellow TUF-finalist Nick Ring at the much anticipated UFC on FOX Sports 1:1 card in August. That’s right, Bostonians, not only do we get Overeem vs. Brown, Alves vs. other Brown, Lauzon vs. Johnson, and (potentially) Henderson vs. Grant, but now we get to see Uriah Hall’s make-or-break fight in the UFC. Expect some Eddie Gordo-level shit to go down in this one, Potato Nation.

(Hall attempts the infamous “Cover Your Eyes and Pray the Scary Monster Goes Away” defense to no avail at the TUF 17 Finale. Photo via Getty Images.)

Ring is also coming of a disappointing loss — a split decision to Chris Camozzi at UFC 158 – and has dropped two of his past three fights. We don’t want to say that the chair will be kicked out from underneath him with a loss here, but the noose is surely tied around his neck and BROOKS WAS HERE has already been carved in the support beam above him, so to speak. Rita Hayworth.

Do any of you guys remember how Soa Palelei was pulled from UFC 161 for not being a big enough name and replaced by Roy Nelson? Well it looks like the move was ultimately a blessing in disguise for the Aussie, as he has been booked against octagon newcomer Nikita Krylov at UFC 164, which goes down from the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee on August 31st.

Palelei was originally scheduled to face the highly-touted Stipe Miocic on June 15th, a fight that he was a sizable underdog heading into, but now finds himself facing a guy who not only calls himself “The Al Capone,” but dresses like him in his fighter profile picture.

(I swear, officer, I’ve never even *heard* of this Roger Rabbit fellow you speak of. Photo via Sherdog.)

Known by the everyday world as Nikita Krylov (why anyone with the name of a James Bond supervillain would want a nickname in the first place is beyond me), this 21 year-old has gone undefeated in 14 contests, with not one of those fights making it outside of the first round. Sounds intimidating, right? Not to worry; a quick gander over Krylov’s list of opponents reveals nine…count ‘em, NINE opponents with no professional wins, ONE fighter with over six fights to his credit, and TWO winning records. Krylov may be the most feared can-crusher in all of the Ukraine, but Soa Palelei is on a whole. notha. level of can-crushing notoriety here. Expect Palelei to come in as a heavy favorite.

And in injury-shuffling news, the hotly-anticipated lightweight bout between Edson Barboza and John Makdessi at UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman has suffered a minor setback, as Makdessi has gone down with an undisclosed injury. Replacing him will be Rafaello “Tractor” Oliveira, who has gone 1-2 in his second octagon stint. After suffering a particularly vicious and prolonged beating at the hands of Yves Edwards at UFC Live 6 in 2011, Oliveira fought just once last year, scoring a unanimous decision victory over Yoislandy Izquierdo at UFC 148. At least we will see a knockout is what we’re trying to say.

–J. Jones

Roy Nelson Says He’ll ‘Never’ Fight for a Title, UFC Wants JDS to Beat Mark Hunt

Unlikely as it may seem, Mark Hunt is starring in the UFC 160 co-main event against former champion Junior dos Santos, just a step away from a title shot.But is the promotion playing favorites?That’s what Roy Nelson told Bloody Elbow’s Stephanie Daniel…

Unlikely as it may seem, Mark Hunt is starring in the UFC 160 co-main event against former champion Junior dos Santos, just a step away from a title shot.

But is the promotion playing favorites?

That’s what Roy Nelson told Bloody Elbow‘s Stephanie Daniels in a recent interview, where the Ultimate Fighter Season 10 winner talked about various aspects of his relationship with the UFC, which has definitely been “strained” at best.

Moreover, “Big Country” states that he’ll “never” fight for the title due to politics, while the heavyweight title picture is so narrowly-focused that UFC is betting on Hunt to lose:

I think they’re business people. That’s why Chael fought last month. They don’t want Mark Hunt to win. They want Junior dos Santos to fight Cain Velasquez again. It just makes sense on paper. That fight can make a lot of money. When Overeem got beat by Bigfoot, that kind of messed some things up.

I make money no matter who I fight. Do I want a shot at the belt? Yes, of course I do. Put it this way, I am Barry Sanders on the Detroit Lions. You love to watch me, but you’ll never see me play in the Super Bowl. It’s just one of those things. It’s about politics. It’s not about fighting.

Nelson’s UFC career has had its ups and downs both inside and outside the Octagon, but it’s hard to see him denied a title shot if he keeps winning.

Out of the entire heavyweight roster, Nelson is one of only two fighters with at least three-straight UFC wins on his record.

More impressively, all three of those wins have been first-round knockout victories, two of which resulted in “Knockout of the Night” awards for Big Country.

Hunt has been just as efficient with his own career resurgence, rattling off four straight wins against Stefan Struve, Cheick Kongo, Ben Rothwell and Chris Tuchscherer—not to mention two “Knockout of the Night” bonuses to boot.

However, both men may see their streaks come to a close.

While Hunt faces his toughest task yet in JDS this Saturday, future opposition for Nelson won’t get him closer to title contention, as he’s slated to fight Stipe Miocic at UFC 161 (via MMA Fighting).

McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist. His work has appeared in NVision, PC World, Macworld, GamePro, 1UP, MMA Mania and The L.A. Times.

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