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10 Quick Questions with Roy Nelson by Tom O'Brien September 20, 2011
This '10 Quick Questions with...' segment features one of MMA's biggest personalities. The former IFL Heavyweight Champion and Ultimate Fighter winner is currently preparing for an October 29 match-up against Mirko "Cro Cop." We're very pleased that "Big Country" Roy Nelson was kind enough to take time out of his schedule to answer a few questions for us. 1. To name a few of your competitive accomplishments, you're a grappling champion, an IFL champion, and Ultimate Fighter winner. I'm sure you're used to hearing negative comments regarding your training, but obviously you're doing something right. To what do you contribute your success? I contribute my success to all of the people around me that push me and want what's best for me. 2. Continuing on the same path as the previous question, as the holder of a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from Renzo Gracie your discipline and desire to succeed can't be questioned. What was it like training with and learning from Renzo? Learning from Renzo, who is a legend in MMA and jiu jitsu, has been an honor. His family has contributed so much to our sport which I am grateful for. 3. Sorry, but I have to ask a Kimbo question... In the TUF bout against Kimbo Slice, you absolutely dominated the contest. Going in to the fight, did you expect to dominate Slice the way you did? In the fights in the house I expected to win and win in anyway possible. 4. Your next contest is against MMA legend Mirko "Cro Cop" Filopovic at UFC 137. It's been said that the loser of this bout may be cut from the UFC. Dana loves guys who fight, win or lose, and you definitely always come to fight. Do you think your UFC future hinges on this match-up? I think any fight in the UFC hinges your future in MMA. Because one day you can be fighting for the belt and the next be fighting the number one contender. 5. You appear to be a down-to-earth guy who's always in good spirits, but I would imagine the questions about your weight have to bother you. Have you ever put any serious thought into dropping down to the light heavyweight division? No, and my weight is an issue only because people are uncomfortable in their own skin and were not loved when they were kids. 6. You're very active on Twitter, and interact with fans quite a bit. How much does it mean to you to communicate with your fans? Interacting with fans is awesome. Fans are what make our sport. 7. The RoyNelson.com site states that you were motivated to learn martial arts after watching "The Karate Kid" and "American Ninja." Being a huge martial arts movie fan myself I'm interested in knowing if you were a fan of Sho Kosugi, and what other classic martial arts movies are high on your list? By the way, I was also a member of the Sho Kosugi fan club. :) A lot of my favorite old school kung-fu movies where by the Shaw brothers and one of my all time favorite movies is "Flying Guillotine" 8. Since you're probably seen as one of the nicest guys in MMA, who would you say are some of the "other nicest guys" in MMA? Off the top of my head I can't think of one over the other. Usually I just look for the best in everybody until they prove me otherwise. 9. In a recent ESPN article you stated your desire to see MMA rounds change to 5 - 3 minutes rounds, and title fights to 10 rounds. I can see where this would push fighters to "bring it", but do you think a change like this will ever happen at the higher levels of MMA? The reason why I came up with this system is because it takes the referee out of the equation and it gives more room for the judges that don't know how to judge to make it up. 10. Do you have any favorite sports other the MMA? If yes, what is your favorite team? I like my sports teams like fans of MMA do. I am a bandwagon fan. So whoever the new champ is, that's my team. Feel free to leave comments below or contact us via e-mail at info@mmaquickhits.com MMA Quick Hits is loading comments...
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