UFC 161’s Roy Nelson: “People Who Are in Our Sport Tend to Abuse PEDS”, “More Skills” Key to His Success
By Kelsey Mowatt
Not only has Roy Nelson has been on a headline grabbing run as of late, as stopping Dave Herman, Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo in a row will do that, but the charismatic heavyweight continues to captivate audiences with his candid commentary. During a recent media call to promote the June 15th, UFC 161 card in Winnipeg, the often called on “Big Country” provided several interesting responses. Many of which had nothing to do with the fact he’ll fight Stipe Miocic at the event.
Of course, Nelson’s physique has garnered plenty of attention throughout his career, and when asked if his body type is an advantage in terms of his success, the outspoken fighter responded:
“I don’t know if it works in my favor, it’s just that people who are in our sport tend to abuse PEDS, or performance enhancing drugs, so that’s the reason why I don’t look like the typical UFC fighter.”
So when asked how he goes about defeating men who may be using PEDs, and as a result, are likely faster and stronger, the decorate grappler noted:
“This is definitely a skilled sport, and we’re definitely athletes, so for myself, I just like to say that I have more skills than the other guy. I guess it would be like the Gracies, with the old jiu-jitsu, like at UFC 1. It was the smaller, more technical guy that beat everybody.”
Nelson’s less than “typical” MMA fighter look doesn’t end at his physique either, thanks to the heavyweight’s trademark mullet and massive beard.
“I think what sets me apart from everybody else is that most guys can’t grow a whole set of hair like myself,” said Nelson, who has gone 6-3 during his run with the UFC, which includes winning the tenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” by knocking out Brendan Schaub in December, 2009. “That’s why I consider myself apart for that, and with the beard, it’s just something to do.”
Nelson was brought in to face Miocic, after it was revealed that bantamweight interim champ Renan Barao could no longer fight Eddie Wineland due to a foot injury. Nelson agreed to take the fight, even though it will happen only six weeks removed from the April 27th, UFC 159, when he stopped Kongo.
When asked why he agreed to take a bout, against a man who’s not currently ranked in the top ten, Nelson offered this intriguing response.
“I got offered Daniel Cormier, and I think he turned it down, and they went down the list, I think Travis Browne, and so forth, and so forth, and so forth,” said Nelson in referencing Cormier, who has previously expressed an interest in fighting him.
And what does the 36 year-old Nelson think of Miocic? Who prior to being stopped by Stefan Struve last September, had won his first three Octagon bouts and had gone 9-0 as a pro.
“Stipe is one of the top guys in the UFC,” noted Nelson. “He wouldn’t be in the UFC if he wasn’t one one of the best guys in the world.”
UFC 161 will be hosted by the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and will be headlined by a light-heavyweight bout between Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson.