Roy Nelson Has Some Harsh Words For Cain Velasquez

UFC heavyweight fan favorite Roy “Big Country” Nelson has never been one known for keeping his thoughts to himself. Heading into his headlining bout against Mark Hunt at Saturday’s (September 20, 2014) UFC Fight Night 52 from Japan, the No. 8-ranked Nelson is looking to talk his way into some coverage.

And today, he did so, speaking up about UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in an interview with FOX Sports. In his normal joking mood, Nelson suggested that he would get a tattoo that is modeled after the infamous one found on Velasquez’ chest:

“I can put ‘White Pride’ on my chest. He has his ‘Brown Pride’ on his chest. Wait, that isn’t the same thing, is it?”

Nelson was joking, but his employers could consider his words a bit off-color. UFC President Dana White has a well-documented history with the outspoken Nelson, so he would probably expect nothing less.

“Big Country” got back into the win column with a big knockout of former Pride and UFC champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC Fight Night 39, snapping a two-fight skid of decision losses to Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. Nelson is on the hunt for a title shot, and he’s getting the hype with Velasquez started a bit early:

“I think Cain Velasquez has only fought the same guy over and over the last couple of years, because they don’t want to change [the champion]. I think any time you’re the champ, you just want to live it up,” Nelson said. “If I was the champ, I’d call it a day. ‘I’ve got pigeon toe. Oh, my toe is hurting, I can’t fight.’ … I’ve gotta make fun of [Velasquez] — ‘Oh, my shoulder hurts. Oh, my butt hurts.'”

Nelson is turning up the heat, and he continued by remembering a time when Velasquez allegedly ducked him when they were both fight in Bodog fights. “Big Country” believes he would have finished the now-dominant champ:

“I would have probably knocked him out. Back then all I did was wrestle and [jiu-jitsu]. All he did was just wrestle.”

An interesting take on things from the entertaining and rotund slugger, but he’ll have to get past Hunt first. That’s no easy task, but Nelson may be aided by the fact that “The Super Samoan” was still at 284 pounds earlier today (September 18, 2014).

If he does, you can expect Nelson to call out for a title shot at Velasquez, who’ll face Fabricio Werdum in the main event of UFC 180 from Mexico City. He probably won’t get it, but you can’t blame “Big Country” for trying.