“It’s hard to say why, but some people have it and some don’t, and Kimbo definitely does…. The fight (between Slice and Nelson) sucked. I wasn’t happy with any of the fights the first three weeks, to be honest. I was disappointed by the way we came out of the gate in terms of the fights. But the fights really get better. By episode 8, believe me when I tell you, you’re going to be going wild…. Hang in there, man. The season’s not over yet. Stay tuned is all I’ll tell you.”
Despite an over-the-top (and shameless) media blitz earlier this week to promote episode three of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 on Spike TV, which featured YouTube sensation Kimbo Slice fighting Roy Nelson, UFC President Dana White admits after that fact that what was billed as “the biggest fight in Ultimate Fighter history” actually sucked. Nelson used his size and superior ground skills to smother Slice for most of the fight, scoring a second round technical knockout via strikes. However, it appeared to be Slice’s inability to get off his back and not Nelson’s repeated marshmallow-like blows that forced the referee to stop the action. Nonetheless, the episode went on the score crazy ratings, attracting 6.1 million viewers to become the fourth most-watched mixed martial arts bout ever on television in North America. White assures fans that the season, which has thus far featured three lackluster heavyweight bouts, will get better. Do you believe it?
“I could have stayed in mount and finished him there with elbows and punches, but my game plan was to get to the crucifix, and once I got to the crucifix, finish the fight there. First round was 44 punches to the face, and then (referee) Herb Dean doesn’t know how to ref, but we’ve seen that before. And then the next round was 22 punches. You could even see me yelling at Herb Dean, ‘Come on, ref.’ But the thing is, there’s a lot of people; there’s a lot of money. Kimbo’s the only one that I know that had an entourage there; he actually had his family there, his management, while the rest of us kind of had to suffer. The UFC made, we’ll say, different concessions for Kimbo. I think he had a media room. Kimbo’s definitely, I guess we’ll say, special. I don’t see the specialness fighting-wise, but more for TV-wise. He puts butts in the seats. So I think it was more that Herb Dean was afraid to lose his job, because there’s a lot of people with a lot of money that can have a lot of influence with his career.”
The Ultimate Fighter 10 contestant Roy Nelson sounds off on the first round of his fight against special attraction Kimbo Slice during episode three of the Spike TV reality show. “Big Country” had the former YouTube brawler trapped in a crucifix and while the damage inflicted was comparable to that of a pillow fight, Slice was still unable to defend himself, intelligently or otherwise. Was referee Herb Dean letting the fight continue out of fear of losing his job? Or is Nelson just sour over his marshmallow fists? Sound off, Maniacs.
“I fought Roy with caution. I did go for the kill one time, but I knew to be careful because Roy will bait you, that’s how good he is. He can look rocked, but the minute you go in for the kill, shwoop! You know what I’m sayin? He’s a smart fighter. When I felt like I rocked him I went in for the kill and that’s when I made my mistake. That’s when I realized, ah, this motherfucker was slick. But in the midst of the fight I had to figure that out. By the second round he figured out how to get in, how to play possum and get me down to the ground. That weight was hard to move. The crucifix is not my favorite position. I been in that position with James Thompson and was stuck. Roy had me also in that same position. That’s a position I would really like to know how to get out of. I know some shit on the ground. It’s not like I get down there and I don’t know nothing. I have some skills. I’ll beat Roy next time around. You’re only gonna beat me once. If I fight anybody and they beat me that one time, that’s it. You gave me your best. You didn’t beat me at my best. Now I know how you’re comin’. You ain’t beatin’ me twice. Damn right I’d rematch Roy.”
On the heels of his Episode 3 elimination from The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 10, special attraction Kimbo Slice reflects on the mistakes he made in his losing effort against Roy Nelson and how a second encounter would yield very different results. Can Slice, who was dropped by trainer Bas Rutten for regressing to his old habits, ever become more than a hard-hitting brawler with a puncher’s chance? With a new home at American Top Team and a rumored fight at the TUF 10 Finale this December, we may get our answer soon enough.
“I was thinking about winning, and that’s why I wanted Roy to beat Kimbo — I thought Roy could knock Kimbo out. It’s not just that Roy can trade punches with Kimbo, but Roy has been in big fights before and he was the only guy who I could be sure wouldn’t get sucked into the mystique of Kimbo Slice. Roy’s biggest problem is he’s always trained by himself, and he doesn’t always seem like he knows how to take coaching. Kimbo can be a very, very good fighter under the right tutelage. Whether he gets that training? That’s on him.”
We’re just a few hours away before Team Rampage number-one pick and former YouTube sensation Kimbo Slice finally steps into the cage against ex-IFL champion Roy Nelson. While the video preview for Episode 3 shows “Big Country” taking a big flop courtesy of a Kimbo-bomb, it’s not uncommon for a downed fighter to execute a miraculous submission from his back or survive until the bell. Nelson does have a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — and the benefit of the doubt from many insiders. Will “Sugar” get all salty over Nelson’s defeat? Or will the swollen submission specialist make his coach proud with a Petruzelli of his own? Tick-tock, Tick-tock …
“I stick out, but I can fight. [TUF 10] is my leap of faith, I’m putting all my eggs in one basket. I’m getting a little bit older and this is my last hurrah. If you look at everyone who’s won the Ultimate Fighter, look at where they’re at, financially. I know I can make $200,000 a year fighting but my ultimate goal is to be a millionaire. My ultimate goal in this business is to make $10 million in my lifetime. The casual MMA fans may say] who the hell is this fat guy? They either gotta love you or they gotta hate you. As long as they’re doing one or the other you’re okay. It’s like professional wrestling, you gotta be the heel or you gotta be the hero.”
Former IFL Heavyweight Champion Roy Nelson — who once chose his protruberant belly over a UFC contract — has some lofty financial goals heading into the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Can “Big Country” make big bucks as a UFC superstar? Or will the casual fan base balk at the jiggly jiu-jitsu black belt? Time will tell, but none of it matters unless Nelson wins — and wins “big.”
