Sherdog’s Top 10: Deceptively Dangerous

Tristen CritchfieldApr 26, 2012



6. Roy Nelson


When Nelson defeated Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson before a record audience on Season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” he celebrated the win by asking for some Burger King. Coming from the man with perhaps the most famous midsection in all of MMA, it should not have been a surprise.

“Big Country” is adored by the beer league softball types who no doubt feel a kinship with a fighter whose gut and athletic prowess exceeds their own. Meanwhile, others view Nelson’s physique as gross negligence and are irritated by what they perceive as a waste of potential. UFC President Dana White has been on the fence regarding the ample-bellied heavyweight. Nelson’s attitude drew the ire of White on the reality show, but he has also expressed respect for the former International Fight League champion.

“You wonder what he could do if he really, really trained and got into it,” White mused following UFC 143, where Nelson was battered by Fabricio Werdum.

Nelson himself takes it all in stride. He recently vowed to drop to light heavyweight if he got 100,000 additional likes on his Facebook page during a two-week period. For now, however, prepare to hear Weird Al Yankovic’s rendition of “Fat” at least one more time: Nelson is expected to appear in a heavyweight bout at UFC 146. May the belly rubbing continue.

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