Roy Nelson: I do have a little thing called power
Roy Nelson: “I’m going to talk in the third person and go out there and say ‘Big Country’ is going to beat him up.
Bellator MMA’s World Grand Prix 2018 heavyweight tournament is now fully underway. Chael Sonnen took a Unanimous Decision over ‘Rampage’ Jackson at Bellator 192 in the opening fight of the opening round. The second quarterfinal fight will be a Roy Nelson vs. Matt Mitrione rematch at Bellator 194 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Friday, February 16.
Nelson stopped Mitrione in Round 1 the first time they fought, at the TUF 16 Finale on December 15, 2012.
I think the biggest memory from that fight was it was the first one after my son was born,” said Nelson to Damon Martin for MMA Weekly. “I didn’t have that much sleep and I wanted to get done so I could come home and have time with my kid.”
‘Big Country’ predicts history will repeat on Friday.
He’s gotten better,” conceded Nelson. “The thing is I think if you’re a competitive fighter, you’re always trying to get better and better so I’m hoping he got better. From the looks of things and his wins, he looks better but I know I’m better and that’s all that matters.
I think my advantage with any fight, especially with Matt, is I’m just a better fighter. I know I have more tools in the tool belt. Him having a longer reach, like I know he’s going to have a longer reach but I have more tools. I know what jiu-jitsu is. I know how to box. I know how to wrestle. I know how to do all the things that make me Roy Nelson. And then I do have a little thing called power.
I’m going to be the best Roy Nelson out there. I’m going to talk in the third person and go out there and say ‘Big Country’ is going to beat him up. I think any main event fighter if they do what they’re supposed to do, they’ll win. The only way I lose is if I beat myself.
That’s how I feel like every fight that I’ve ever lost is because I know I made a mistake somewhere.
The third fight in the World Grand Prix 2018 heavyweight tournament will be the greatest heavyweight of all time Fedor Emelianenko vs. former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir at Bellator 196 on April 28. The final opening-round fight will be Ryan Bader vs. Muhammed Lawal at an event to be named in May at SAP Center in San Jose, California.