Roy Nelson: TRT ban puts PED abuse back in the dark
“It’s probably a little safer for the athlete,” said Roy Nelson of the TRT ban, adding “If you’re going to cheat, you’re going to cheat.”
Roy Nelson recently conducted an interview with Case Keefer ahead of his fight with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the main event of UFC Fight Night 39. UFN 39 streams on Fight Pass, Friday, live from Abu Dhabi, UAE. Prelims start at 11:50 a.m. ET, and the four-fight main card starts at 2 p.m. ET.
Case Keefer: What do you think about fighting Nogueira?
Roy Nelson: Everyone wants to fight Nogueira in the UFC because he’s the only one that’s won a Pride belt and a UFC belt. He’s a legend. He’s one of those guys that comes to fight. He’s an old-school guy where he’s going to try to finish the fight regardless in the first round or fifth round. I respect fighters that try to do that instead of play the new game, ‘I can outpoint you for five rounds, three rounds or whatever.’ I like the old school of, ‘We’re in this cage and only one guy is going to leave.’
CK: You described Nogueira as a legend. Do you strive to reach a status like that?
RN: I think, fan base-wise, I’m definitely up there with Big Nog. Everyone knows my name. Roy Nelson is definitely household. I definitely want to leave my mark to where people say, ‘Man I love the way Roy fights,’ and ‘I love the way Roy finishes fights.’ That’s ego as a fighter. You want to leave a little mark on the sport.
CK: You’ve been outspoken about the merits of increased drug testing. What do you make of the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s ban of testosterone replacement theory?
RN: The way I look at it is, it just goes back to putting everything back in the dark a little bit more. There was that little loophole that wasn’t really a loophole. If anything, I actually thought it was probably better because you’re not getting the stuff off the black market. It’s probably a little safer for the athlete. If you’re going to cheat, you’re going to cheat.
UFC FIght Night 39
Main Card (FightPass)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Roy Nelson
Clay Guida vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
John Howard vs. Ryan LaFlare
Ramsey Nijem vs. Beneil Dariush
?Prelim Card (FightPass)
Jared Rosholt vs. Daniel Omielanczuk
Rani Yahya vs. Johnny Bedford
Thales Leites vs. Trevor Smith
Andrew Craig vs. Chris Camozzi
Jim Alers vs. Alan Omer