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The Interrogation is a new (and soon-to-be regular) feature where The MMA Manifesto interrogates some of the world's best MMA fighters. First up is recently crowed The Ultimate Fighter 10 champion Roy "Big Country" Nelson, who spills the beans on Kimbo Slice, Dana White and Burger King, among other topics.
The MMA Manifesto: Is it a dream come true for you to be in the UFC?
Roy Nelson: A start for a dream. I have a lot of dreams, so once I've already accomplished one goal I kind of move real fast and try to go to the next one.
MM: Was this a long-term goal for you, making it to the UFC?
RN: I just wanted to finish in the UFC.
MM: Finish off your career you mean?
RN: Yeah.
MM: Has your life changed yet since winning TUF or is it too soon?
RN: I think the show was probably the biggest change, not winning the actual Ultimate Fighter. I just notice it a lot with the UFC fans just introducing myself to them. That's probably the biggest change - going down the street and people recognize you. I was in Las Vegas - it's fight capital. If I go to the Hard Rock or the Red Rock I already had fan recognition because they were hardcore MMA fans. But now, like going to Walmart fans walk up to ya.
MM: Did you feel pressure to win show?
RN: The pressure didn't really come until the couple of days before the Finale - it was like "I should win, I have to win". When I actually went in the house my goals were pretty set - I just needed to rattle off three wins in the house and then on the last one just get my fourth one. I tried to keep it calm as much as I can. I just wish all four would actually count on my record!
MM: Do you tend to get nervous before a fight?
RN: Not really. I'm a big procrastinator. I usually don't worry about stuff until the day of. But I don't really get that nervous because if you go out there and do what you're supposed to do, if you train your butt off and do all the stuff that you normally do then you can't really be nervous.
MM: Who impressed you in the house?
RN: Out of everybody that I saw so far the one that impressed me the most was actually Jon Madsen because he had a southpaw stance when he went in the house and then he came out orthodox. If you had to do a meter of who has changed the most and who has improved the most I'd definitely give it to him. But, as for everybody else - everybody that made it to the Finale definitely has a career in the UFC - it's just all about styles and matchups. It depends on if they throw you to the wolves right away or if they kind of groom you a little bit.
MM: Were you surprised to find out that Kimbo Slice is really a down-to-earth, humble guy who realizes his MMA game still needs a lot of work?
RN: If you throw a lion in with the rest of the lions you kind of get put in check real fast - there's a respect factor. Kimbo is definitely a lion and if you throw him in with a bunch of sheep then he would probably go full-bore and reign kind of like what he did with Elite XC.
MM: What did you think of his fight versus Houston Alexander?
RN: I just thought there was going to be a little more fireworks. They were just tentative because they were both afraid of each other's power. It could have been the weight cut, stress factors, "I have to win" - there's a lot of different issues probably going on. I think Kimbo will do really well - it's just all about styles. If he stays with a lot of the guys at 205 where they just bang out, Kimbo definitely has a chance to stay really competitive. If he stays as a heavyweight, most of us are wrestlers so it kind of takes him out of his element a little bit. It's one of those things - styles makes matches?
MM: What's next for you - have you been told who and when you fight next?
RN: I haven't talked to Joe (Silva) or Dana (White). I'm game for whoever they want to give me.
MM: Is there any fighter that you've had your eye on in terms of wanting to fight them?
RN: The only guy that I ever had my eye on when I chose to go to the UFC was whoever had the belt - that was Brock at the time. It's pretty much whoever is the man to beat. Those are always my goals. And then after I get that goal then the next one is to kind of spread the wings and just fight whoever I haven't fought yet just to see how I prepare. The thing about once you're at this level it is about styles in matches. My thing is I always want to be very competitive and fight the best in the world so even if they're not the champ I always just want to challenge myself and fight the guys that I thought were legends, all the way from a Randy (Couture) to a (Antonio Rodrigo) Nogueira - there's guys that you just want to fight.
MM: Normally the TUF champ is a younger guy that the UFC brings along slowly. You, on the other hand, are an experienced guy - do you think you are ready for the top guys in the heavyweight division?
RN: Yeah, I believe I'd very competitive with the top heavyweights right now. I think that's the reason why the UFC did their marketing with me and Kimbo. We're the most watched show on Spike. I was in three of the top 10 (most) watched cards in MMA history. So it's one of those things that I think that definitely (they) marketed me to make sure I was shown to the UFC fans and the public so they could just throw me in right with the other guys.
MM: Dana White has been quite public with his criticism of you. Would it be safe to say that he isn't a fan of your's?
RN: Dana sometimes gets in his moods. Apparently on Saturday night (TUF 10 Finale) I did actually pretty well because I did get knockout of the night so I must have impressed him and Lorenzo (Fertitta) to a certain degree.
MM: Are you worried about Dana not liking you? He's the most powerful guy in the business so you have to make sure to play nice with him.
RN: I think the biggest thing about playing nice with Dana is as long as I go out there and fight and put on a show. My biggest thing is as long as I impress the fans because they are the ones that pay the bills. That's first and foremost - they're the ones that pay Dana and then Dana pays me so if they stop paying then of course I could see how Dana would get mad. But, for the most part I'm always entertaining. I've always impressed in all my fights that I've ever fought pro.
MM: Do you think part of your appeal is you come off as the "common man"? You claim to be just a fat guy when really you are a skilled MMA fighter?
RN: My appeal is definitely that I'm actually normal. But the biggest thing is I'm just a professional athlete - I'm just like a professional football player. The thing is a lot of professional football players look just like me. Except they're wearing football pads. That's pretty much the only difference. I just choose to fight and I actually know how to fight.
MM: Do you think your physical appearance lets you sneak up on guys who might underestimate you?
RN: The thing is if you're in the sport of MMA you already knew who I was before. The only people who are just impressed with me or impressed with what I can do are the fans. They're the ones that assume. But all the professional MMA guys they already go "No that's Roy. Watch out for him he's got good ground. He can punch you in your face. He's pretty good all over".
MM: Your stomach bulk seems to help you, especially on the ground in side control.
RN: I'm a jiu-jitsu guy so I try to use all my leverage - my weight, the whole nine yards - to my advantage. I still try to use every ounce of everything I have to my pinkie toe to my big toe to make sure I have the weight advantage or the extra leverage.
MM: Last but not least, do you have a Burger King sponsorship deal yet!?
RN: I'm working on it this week. So hopefully I can do a big press release - me and Tony Stewart are going to be doing some press. But if not I might be calling Jack in the Box or my friends at Taco Bell.
MM: So you don't discriminate with your fast food choices!?
RN: If I can't get my Burger King sponsorship I might have to boycot and go to Jack. Me and Jack will do some good commercials.
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