Nelson opens up about potential WWE, Bellator runs after UFC
If any UFC fighter is comfortable in their own skin, it's Roy "Big Country" Nelson.
For the past seven years, Nelson has made himself a mainstay of the UFC's heavyweight division with a combination of highlight-reel knockouts and his no-nonsense personality.
There's also his belly, which usually makes Nelson instantly recognizable.
Nelson will compete for the 18th time in the Octagon when he fights Antonio Silva at UFC Fight Night 95 on Saturday in Brasilia, Brazil. Mired in a 2-6 slump, the 40-year-old Nelson is currently experiencing the worst stretch of his career. He acknowledged that he's considered his next move should he end up on the chopping block with another loss.
"The WWE," Nelson told theScore. "There's lots of options. It's MMA, you could fight for the UFC, you could fight for Bellator. That's the one thing about fighting is that the product is you, not a brand."
A move to Bellator would put Nelson in the same company as recent UFC exports Benson Henderson, Rory MacDonald, and former "Ultimate Fighter 10" housemate Matt Mitrione. Though Bellator fighters often have to work doubly hard to receive the same recognition as their UFC counterparts, Nelson's confident his unique appeal would carry over without issue.
"I would go and be a superstar there, just as I am now," said Nelson.
As for the WWE, that's more than just a pipe dream. Nelson has been in contact with the professional wrestling organization, though discussions were limited due to his status as a UFC employee. But after seeing Ronda Rousey's appearance at Wrestlemania last year and CM Punk's recent UFC debut, and watching Brock Lesnar repeatedly blur the line between sports entertainer and cage fighter, Nelson is keeping the idea alive.
"Yeah, there has definitely been talks," said Nelson. "I only squashed it because of our contracts, but all of a sudden Ronda Rousey and everybody else (is working with the WWE) - now I'm like, 'Maybe there's something to this.'"
And Nelson already has an entrance song that will endear him to the WWE's rabid fans: "Fat" by "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Nelson walked out to the song when he made his UFC debut in 2009. It's become one of his signatures, although he was forbidden to use it for several years. He was allowed to break it out for his most recent fight this past July.
"That first time that I did it, it was cool and then the next thing you know everyone was talking about it," said Nelson. "But for four or five years I was not allowed to use it."
A colorful character who can fight and isn't afraid of ruffling some feathers? It sounds like "Big Country" might be ready to pull on a pair of spandex tights after all.