What Does Big Country Hope to Accomplish in the UFC?

A couple of years ago, I saw "Big Country" Roy Nelson fighting in a foreign country, maybe Russia, for Bodog Fighting or some other now-defunct company.

He looked flabby and out of shape compared to the other fighter, but I liked his nickname, being very fond of the country life I am living, so naturally, I ended up yelling my lungs out for him.

The room the fights were held in was rather ornate for a fighting venue, which was a surprise for me. I have never associated a bloodsport with floor-to-ceiling red velvet drapes and chandeliers. 

Present in the modest-sized audience were many men dressed in very fancy black suits, possibly tuxedos. There was not an abundance of women, though those present were in evening dresses.  I don't remember any high-pitched screaming going on during the fight either.

There was a large ring which reminded me of the many WWE matches that my family used to watch back in the day, as my 40-year-old son likes to put it.

Now, I would not be caught dead watching a "professional wrestling" event no matter who starred in it, although I have seen fights produced by other organizations which held events in the old square rings rather than cages of any geometric shape or size.

Most of what I remember of Roy, though, was that he did appear to be like a country bumpkin who was out of both his depth and typical environment. The announcers made many humorous comments about his appearance and nickname.

I kept hoping that he had not eaten a big country breakfast or lunch which he could lose on the floor of the ring. Cardiac arrest also hovered in the possibilities my mind conjured up. In my recollection, I think he won, to the amazement of everyone watching.

Later, even though I watched the team events by the International Fight League, I recognized many fighters, but do not recall big Roy being one of them. The biggest fighter I do remember was terrific and was nicknamed "the Janitor."

Now I have heard that Roy had a big career in the IFL. You couldn't prove it by me.

That initial fight I saw did show different versions of the same belly-flopping take down technique he used on poor Kimbo Slice, and also many mounts which sent his skin jiggling like flesh-toned Jell-O.

It was actually repulsive in a fascinating, "oh, look there's been an accident on the highway," sort of fashion.

Although I did not look away, in my naivete I believed that Roy, if he expected to go anywhere in the sport of MMA, would surely lose a lot of weight and began training to firm all the flab.

His excess fleshiness did nothing to enhance his fat-boy theatrics, with the huffing he did while rushing his opponent, the trips and belly flopping on top of him; how strangely obscene for a sporting event.

If he didn't win, it was only his freaky fatness and my own guilt for letting my life circumstances and having Multiple Sclerosis result in my being so overweight.

He was not good looking at all, and I felt great pity that he was willingly making such a spectacle of himself. It would be the equivalent of me trying to perform on a stripper pole: not very pretty!

So seeing Roy again in the UFC TUF series 10 reminded me of seeing Roy perform in the past and having the impression that time had fast-forwarded and nothing at all had changed about Roy.

The fight with Kimbo appeared as sloppy as the last one, and seeing him "win" brought me no joy.

I do not like big-mouthed braggarts and that is how Roy portrayed himself, by crowing about how great his win was afterwards.

Once again, as a fellow fatty, I was humiliated for him and wished he had used the time between then and the present, to make some changes in his life and adjustments in his eating habits.

Roy and I have fat in common, but I am not a fan of his.

Surely he isn't thinking that he will someday unseat Brock Lesnar in the Heavyweight division.

Question is, what is Roy thinking?