Interview with TUF 10 Heavyweight Winner Roy "Big Country" Nelson

TUF 10 contestant Roy Nelson discusses the Quarterfinal & Semifinal fights from Episode 11

Roy Nelson’s physique may not be what comes to mind when you think of a cage fighter. If you know the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, you realize looks are extremely deceiving. Many critics point to Nelson’s girth or his style and don’t give him a chance. Now, Nelson has walked through The Ultimate Fighter house with relative ease and finished Brendan Schaub at the TUF 10 finale for the six figure contact. Yeah, the former coach turned fighter is pretty good. Not only can Nelson fight, he is also one of the most genuine guys you will ever meet. My conversation with Big Country following his victory at The Ultimate Fighter Finale:

SD- Now that you have won the six figure contact and made your way through the house, reflect on the experience.

Roy "Big Country" Nelson defeated Brendan Schaub to win The Ultimate Fighter 10 Heavyweights Photo used with permission from the UFC

RN- I’m happy about it. I set my goal to go out and win four fights and I accomplished that. Now I have a couple of more goals I want to accomplish in the UFC. The Ultimate Fighter was just one of the steps.

SD- How were your nerves in the finale fight with Brendan Schaub at the Palms in Las Vegas?

RN- I feed off the crowd so it was fun. I always try to go out and please the crowd.

SD- Where did you train at for the fight?

RN- I trained as usual at my house. TapouT was gracious enough to let me use their TapouT MMA Club as well. It was pretty much just me and my crew over there. Just my usual training partners and my new striking coach.

SD- Any feel yet for when you will fight again?

RN- I have no idea. I’m pretty much taking it day by day. I might hear something in the next few weeks following UFC 107. You never know, heavyweights have been dropping like flies so I might just get that call.

SD- You didn’t really take any shots during the fight. How are you health-wise right now?

RN- Actually I’m as healthy as I went into it. The only marks I really got occurred the week of the fight. I was sparring and got hit in the eye. I got a black eye from that. From the fight I’m the same as I went in.

SD- You landed the perfect punch. I equate that to a slugger in MLB hitting the sweet spot on the bat. How did it feel when you connected on that?

RN- There was a punch I landed earlier with my right hand. It landed pretty flush on his jaw but he kind of rolled with it a little bit. I landed it pretty good but it wasn’t that solid. The punch that ended it was like a home run where you could just hear that crack. My only scary thought was am I going to have to run over and hit Brendan one more time. I’m glad the referee jumped in.

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SD- It wasn’t long ago you were fighting in the now defunct IFL. Now you have a six figure contract with the UFC. Some dreams are starting to be realized...

RN- Yeah, it is one of those things where we're stepping in the right direction. My goal has always been to get to the UFC and to become a UFC Champion. As long as I keep that heading the right way then I’m happy.