Roy “Big Country” Nelson is the “Ultimate Fighter 10” heavyweight winner with a record of 13-4, and 1-0 in the UFC. He is 6’0 and weighs in at 264lbs!! If you see Roy Nelson walking down the street you would never guess he was a mixed martial arts fighter, and a good one at that. He has a legit black belt given to him under the instruction of Renzo Gracie. In 2007, Roy Nelson became the first heavyweight champion in IFL: International Fight League and successfully defending his title two times. Yet, on various mixed martial arts websites and online blogs, he is being addressed as the “fat and sorry” fighter. Even the president of the UFC: Ultimate Fighting Championship, showed disgust toward him, saying he was annoying. On an online interview with www.mmafanhouse.com, Roy was asked if being called “fat” was hurtful or interfered with his fight preparations. Roy commented that when he won he was considered “big boned” when he lost he was “the fat guy”, he states “make up your mind, and he does not let any talk bother him, he does his talking in the ring”-Roy Nelson. The question remains is “Does society have a fat-phobia toward mixed martial arts fighters body structure, who do not fit the norm? Just like the readings on Body, both Unbearable lessons: Contesting Fat Phobia in Physical Education and Running Big: Clydesdale Runners and Technologies of the body, people tend to look at overweight people and athletes as something outside the norm. How is it possible that Roy “Big Country” Nelson be in better shape compared to Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson? Kimbo Slice appears to have a body sculpted by he Greek gods, yet his conditioning is nothing compared to Roy Nelson?
Steven LaRue, KIN 332I
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