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Roy Nelson's spectacular knockout victory over Matt Mitrione last weekend, left no doubt that he has the tools to get a title shot. The heavyweight division, once the most shallow of all the weight classes, has a fairly solid lineup, with 30 athletes rounding it out. Roy says he's ready to meet any one of those guys during his quest for UFC gold. In a recent interview I conducted with Roy, he talked about the journey he's making, and how long he'd like to continue his career.
Junior dos Santos and title shot
I think even back then, if I'd had two extra rounds, it could have been a different fight. I always care about the title shot, but that's the end game. For the most part, as long as you're fighting in the UFC, you're fighting the best in the world. Of course you want that belt, but it's not what defines you as a fighter.
The Ultimate Fighter
I think at the end of the day, when you're in TUF, it's a game show. The goal is to win, so if Colton Smith had the ugliest fight, but won the show, like he did, they have to give him a contract, because that's the rules. He won the show, and after that, he can fight any which way he wants. They can't take it away from him, because it's a game show. He had a game plan, and he executed it. He went out there and rode a guy's back for three rounds. I think they thought Mike Ricci was gonna win, otherwise GSP wouldn't have gotten on a plane and come out to be in his corner, but Colton beat him up.
Ronda Rousey headlining UFC 157
If you look at the card, it's actually very stacked. That's the good thing about the UFC, they stack the cards, so it's not really just one person carrying the card. If it was just Ronda Rousey, and then you throw in a Mac Danzig, and guys like that, then that card would do crappy. There's like three or four guys on that card that could headline by themselves, and that will help her out. Then they can go, 'Look what women's MMA is doing' [laughs].
VADA misconceptions
If you fight Roy Nelson, don't be surprised if you get asked to participate in VADA. If I can get sponsored, and I can offer a gift to my opponent, it has nothing to do with calling people out or accusing them of anything. It has to do with cleaning up the sport. I want to help keep the sport as pure as possible.
I think a lot of people get confused. When I say 'get sponsored', I mean on both sides, both figfhters. I've basically taken all your freaking excuses out. 'Oh, it's gonna cost me money.' Nope. I've taken that out. 'Oh, I don't have time.' Nope. They come to you. You shouldn't have excuses. It's a yes or no question. You either think you're clean, or you're not.
Future
If I could be like Randy Couture or Dan Henderson or Chuck Liddell, that would be great. There's a lot of guys that do well into their 40's, so I've got another good three years, for sure. If I wanted to be like Randy, then I've got another five or six. I'm thinking I've got another 10 years.
You can follow Roy via his Twitter account, @RoyNelsonMMA
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