Bloody Elbow: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: The Boxing Bulletin for Boxing Fans!

UFC TUF 10 Contestant Roy "Big Country" Nelson: Episode 2 Q & A


Here are some questions for you Roy. Thank you again for your time. It seems more and more people are becoming interested in you as a fighter. I think that's pretty cool. Some of the questions that people are asking me to ask you, are not even TUF 10 related!
 
MMAFC: You seemed like you might have been a little more coachable this episode, were you? What were your thoughts about the coaches "scolding" at this point, and what if anything changed for you as a result? Did you have any thoughts about the coaching at this point?
 
RN: The whole coachable problem was day 1 of practice. This is where we learned where the line was in the sand. The Scolding they gave wasn't really scolding as much as I gave them for their coaching abilities. We all worked past our differences and proceeded to map out a new plan.
 
MMAFC: As a real veteran of the sport, and IFL HW Champion, how were you feeling about living in the house with these 15 other fighters? We're you loving it, content, hating it, etc.?
 
RN: I just wanted to fight as soon as I got in the house. I wasn't a happy camper since you are giving up 6 weeks of your life.
 
MMAFC: During this episode, you called Kimbo Slice a "veteran". Why did you call him that, and what did you mean by it?
 
RN: I called him a veteran because he has couple fights under his wings, and has performed on the big stage.
 
MMAFC: What kind of shape were you in and how was your conditioning at this point. Was this your normal walking around condition, your training for a fight condition, something in between, etc.?
 
RN: I was ready to fight as soon as I got in the house. I try to stay in street certified shape year around.
 
MMAFC: Did anyone stand out for you, at this point. Anyone in THE BEST condition, or THE worst condition, or THE hardest worker, or THE biggest slacker, etc.?
 
RN: On my team everyone was a hard worker, you could just watch people train and see their holes in their game.
 
MMAFC: What did you guys think, as a team, and you personally about the matchup of Shivers and McSweeney? Any surprises for you in that fight?
 
RN: As a team we thought it was a good match up since the both like to stand up and bang. We just thought it was going to be more of a standing fight with a lot more gas.
 
MMAFC: Was it, to be expected, understandable, shocking, or something in between that they both (Shivers moreso) gassed after a couple of minutes?
 
RN: Rashad expected Wes to gas but not James so that is what made the fight interesting.
 
MMAFC: Did you know from Rashad that you'd be next up, and that he'd match you up against Kimbo before it was announced? Can you describe for us the process leading up to the fight selections?
 
RN: The process was simple, the coaches and the UFC brass need someone to fight KIMBO that had a name to keep him relevant.
 
MMAFC: At this point, how are you feeling about fighting Kimbo, and what kind of game plan do you have? Have you already discussed fight strategy with your coaching staff?
 
RN: Fighting Kimbo I was feeling I got shafted, since he was not the fighter I wanted. As for strategy that was simple one, stand up and bang with him.;)
 
MMAFC: Someone wants to know if you'd want a rematch with Arlovski? Did/do you feel like it was a bad call for the ref to stand you up?
 
RN: I would fight Arlovski again, the fight was entertaining and who knows what would have happened if I didn't fight in Florida. As for the ref stand up, I believe it was one of the best learning experiences of my fight career.
 
MMAFC: We'll end this week with someone wanting to know from you, what advice you have for aspiring fighters.
 
RN: The only thing I can tell aspiring fighters is surround your self with people that want the best for you and not the people that pull you down.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

0 recs  |  Comment 13 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

I try to stay in street certified shape year around

Interesting choice of words from Roy. Is that a message about his upcoming fight?

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on Sep 25, 2009 2:16 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Fighting Kimbo I was feeling I got shafted, since he was not the fighter I wanted. As for strategy that was simple one, stand up and bang with him.;)

He said during episode 2 that he wanted Kimbo and i really wanna see if he stands up with Kimbo

by SouthAlaBamaRampage on Sep 25, 2009 2:27 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

as I recall from one of the fighter blogs from last season that the show does not always show what is happening in chronological order so maybe that footage was from a few weeks into the show

Yes, time flies. And where did it leave you? Old too soon...smart too late. - Mike Tyson

by lovingmma25 on Sep 25, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Does this quote mean that Kimbo is going to lose
The process was simple, the coaches and the UFC brass need someone to fight KIMBO that had a name to keep him relevant.

As in if Kimbo lost to somebody like Shivers, he would lose relevence but if he loses to a former HW champ, he can still be billed as having potential.

by Sokojoe on Sep 25, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Very good point

I was wondering about that quote myself…

I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
--------
Join the DC Area UFC Meetup Group
http://www.meetup.com/DCUFCGroup

by funnytiger on Sep 25, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don’t think it means Kimbo is going to lose at all, but I do think your interpretation is right on the money. And it was a wise choice by the UFC, if they indeed did influence this choice.

"You guys are jerking eachother off with some pseudo deep bullshit." - Kid Nate

by kyfm621 on Sep 25, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

on the Spike TV podcast today Dana said that he does not make any influences or requests on the coaches or the fighters (paraphrasing)

Yes, time flies. And where did it leave you? Old too soon...smart too late. - Mike Tyson

by lovingmma25 on Sep 25, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

However the fighters and coaches do, and they probably realize that keeping Kimbo around and relevant as long as possible is in their best interest. He draws eyes.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Sep 25, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm pretty confident that..

Rashad & his coaches put Roy against Kimbo because Roy was the most experienced in the house. He had the best odds of beating Kimbo due to his ground skills & his ability to fight standing..

They weren’t doing anyone any favors in the fight selection.. They probably felt it was best to put Roy in there with Kimbo first to have the best chance at knocking him off.. The fact of the matter remains this:

If Roy wins, “he was supposed to” & they got what they wanted.. Kimbo was 1 & done..

If Kimbo wins, “he upsets the top seed in the competition & it shakes up the entire outcome of the competition all in 1 fight”

Also by Kimbo winning, it could make the other fighters in the house more respectful by the simple fact that Kimbo just beat the most experienced guy in the house..

I also find it hard to believe that Spike (not UFC) would air his fight so early if he loses in the fashion that everybody thinks. For those of you that don’t know these fights are not aired in chronological order.. They air them in the order the producers feel will draw the most interest.. I’ve worked in film, video, radio & tv for some time.. The UFC has no say in the order the fights are shown nor how the episodes are aired.. Anyone in reality TV can tell you, there is a production team with writers & producers that “guide” you as they say in reality TV.. They dont come right out and directly tell you what to do, but they give open suggestions and let the cast take it from there..

Kimbo losing does more to hurt the interest in TUF than it does to help it.. Nelson (even though the odds on favorite) does not have the “look” or charisma to attract an audience.. No one would care too much about him even in beating Kimbo.. It’s not a spring board of attraction here.. Kimbo losing simply kills the appeal, mainly by all the marketing and promotion they put behind him.. Junie can’t be used as an example because Junie “won” fights on the show. He also didn’t have the kind of promotion & marketing that Kimbo has right now. So that leaves me to think that logically, Kimbo has to be semi successful on the show to make it worth effort. Not only that but I’m sure the producers would have held this fight to the last possible fight of the first round if he did lose to keep the interest going. They wont to show a more in depth side to Kimbo and the only way they get that is by him at least hanging in the competition till the semi’s.. This way it gives them enough time to build up interest in the other fighters.. I’m pretty confident of this..

8-29-09

Keith Jardine is now known as "The Dean of Antihistamine" because he is always sleeping early in fights..

by MMAuthority on Sep 25, 2009 7:34 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

Excellent points. I suspect that the loser of the Kimbo/Nelson fight won’t be done. Whichever loses will get to replace another fighter that gets hurt. It wouldn’t surprise me if it ends up being Kimbo vs Nelson II in the finals.

by thekiltedwonder on Sep 25, 2009 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

That would really suck if Kimbo was simply brought back just ’cause of an “injury” to another fighter.

I’d rather he WIN and stay based on his own merits.

by BNTHIS on Sep 27, 2009 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I keep seeing you talk about him having to do something to stay, do you actually watch the show? Guys don’t go home if they lose and they have to stay in fighting shape because they may have to come back and fill in for a fighter that can’t continue (happens darn near every season).

by who me on Sep 27, 2009 2:03 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it." -- H.L. Mencken
Start posting on Bloody Elbow »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Weoweoweodotdeviantartdotcom_by_weoweoweo_small
TUF 10 Contestant, Darrill Schoonover to Return to Active Army Duty
Tracy_lee_martin_mcneil_small
UPDATE: It's (99%) on: Machida / Rua II on May 1st
Small
The REAL Controversy at UFC 106
Mirkneebaraim640_small
Georges St Pierre vs. Dan Hardy to Headline UFC 109 in February?
Nav-logo-hover_small
UFC 106: Pros Pick Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz fights

Recent FanPosts

Small
Why do people think UFC has the best Heavyweights?
Just_tiger_small
Kim Couture (10K) top earner at Strikeforce Challengers V
Just_tiger_small
Josh Burkman KO's Brandon Melendez at Throwdown Showdown V
Headkick-lg_small
Judging Change: Reward Flashy Fightres?
Alvarezavatar_small
Update On SRC x DREAM NYE Event
Small
Fantasy match-making in the UFC Light HW Division
Small
Mixed Martial in South Asia

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

MMA Rankings

USA Today / SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings