Roy Nelson is that rare fighter whose value to the sport exceeds his fighting potential, much like Matt Brown. No one is blind to his limitations, both physical and technical, yet his appeal eclipses that of many more gifted mixed martial artists. Nelson’s gutsy—no pun intended—loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 185 only enhances his rugged reputation.
He’s “Stone Cold” Steve Austin with a mullet and a snail-like metabolism. Even Nelson’s patriotic misappropriation of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” is oddly endearing. His image is that of the everyman, and one suspects he does more to play up that persona than he’d have us believe.
We see an apparently out-of-shape 38-year-old man competing with genetically blessed, technically superior athletes and holding his own. There’s inspiration to be found in that narrative, even if it is one that’s somewhat skewed.
Nelson, of course, has always been more physically gifted than he looks. He’s not Cain Velasquez, but nor is he Cody McKenzie. He is a good athlete with a deceptively deep skill set and a right hand that could stiffen an elephant.
We’re unlikely to see Nelson even so much as fight for the title, but his value has never been in starring as the face of the UFC’s heavyweight division—this scenario is probably a fixture of Dana White’s nightmares. He’s a carnival curiosity and a desirable scalp for anyone in the heavyweight division’s top 20.
Without further delay, let’s engage in a little speculation over what’s next on Big Country's agenda.
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