(Don’t fear the belly; fear the consequences.)
Kimbo Slice’s chances of winning season ten of “The Ultimate Fighter” just got a little worse, because according to MMA Madness former IFL heavyweight champion Roy “Big Country” Nelson joined the cast of the show, which began filming last week. Those of you didn’t watch a lick of the IFL might remember Nelson from such bad referee stand-ups/devastating knockouts as his loss to Andrei Arlovski on the same EliteXC card that produced the StandGate incident. After that Nelson lost a very close decision against Jeff Monson at March Badness, bringing his pro record to 13-4.
Also appearing in this season will be gangly former UFC heavyweight contender Wes Sims, who’s been busy padding his record lately against no one you’ve ever heard of. The 6’10” Sims lost all three of his fights in the UFC and has been disqualified twice in his illustrious career. He also made our Best Technical Submissions list for getting choked out by Daniel Gracie, so you might say he’s a guy who people remember, though not necessarily for the best reasons.
While Sims is big and strong enough to pose problems for anyone without at least a modicum of MMA skill, it’s Nelson who is the more interesting addition to the cast. He may look like just another fat dude, but he has excellent jiu-jitsu and knockout power, while also somehow having a pretty good gas tank. Basically, he’s the kind of guy who could probably beat Kimbo without ever putting down his hoagie.
Seeing a real, experienced fighter like Nelson added to a cast that includes Slice, a few ex-NFL players, and some other as of yet unnamed guys makes you think that the UFC is serious about not giving Kimbo an easy road to the finals just for the sake of ratings. It also makes you think that a wisecracking coach like “Rampage” Jackson is going to have a lot of fun making jokes about Nelson’s doughy physique. Yep, the tenth season is really looking like it’s going to be one to remember, for one reason or another.
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Comments
Mon, 06/08/09 - 04:50
Im holding my breath for the announcement of Canseco being added to the cast
Mon, 06/08/09 - 04:53
Hong Man Choi!!!
Mon, 06/08/09 - 04:55
Ten seasons is a lot of seasons.
Mon, 06/08/09 - 04:56
I cant wait to hear the things wes has to say! prepare for hilarity!
Mon, 06/08/09 - 05:03
I really think that this season will be the most entertaining. Kimbo will turn into a real fighter. Big Country has a legit shot at winning and Wes Sims, isnt that the guy who used to fight in the UFC?
Mon, 06/08/09 - 05:13
Big Country is no joke. He's my favorite to win the show, even though I would love for Kimbo to win.
Mon, 06/08/09 - 05:13
So who are the coaches??
Mon, 06/08/09 - 05:17
they needa get Dan Quinn on this shit, just give em a lil PCP and he'd fuck up any of these guys!!!!! could you imagine him talking in the 3rd person and eating pounds of stevia the whole show!!!! it'd be an instant television classic
Mon, 06/08/09 - 05:21
best season eva
Mon, 06/08/09 - 05:34
@ CJ: While I am not rooting for Kimbo, I agree that Big Country has to be the favorite now to win. He's got skills and is very, very solid on the ground.
Mon, 06/08/09 - 06:15
Did you even read the fucking story? Yes Wes Sims used to fight in the UFC as it clearly states in the article.
Mon, 06/08/09 - 06:19
I was talking to Ryders.
Mon, 06/08/09 - 06:22
Oh and this is going to be an awesome season for sure. I cant wait to see Kimbo catch a beat down or prove me wrong and win the whole thing, either way I would be happy really.
Mon, 06/08/09 - 07:03
Brendan Schaub should be the favorite right now. He's got the build, athleticism, standup, and is an absolute no-gi champion. This really is not an easy road for Kimbo at all. It looks like it's more aimed to draw at the Heavyweight division which usually gets more play from the mainstream media for reasons unexplained to this point (maybe the absolutism of being the man). I wouldn't be shocked if Kimbo won this, but I would be surprised. I am not a fan of his, but he has stand up ability. You have to see these aren't donut eating reserve border patrollers here. This is going to be an awesome tournament!
Mon, 06/08/09 - 07:13
hmm... Why no Westbrook?
Mon, 06/08/09 - 07:14
I think we all have a bit of a guilty pleasure deep down that makes us want to see Kimbo pull this out. I don't feel Kimbo is a favorite to win, nor do I really think he has much more skill other than any other brick-fisted brawler. But it would be so entertaining to see Kimbo win it. And thats what this is all about, right, TV ratings?
Mon, 06/08/09 - 07:29
I bet there's already a deal in place with Kimbo. Win or lose in the house, he will be on the card at the TUF finale and in the UFC. And if he should win, he will get a much better contract, even if it's a locker room contract, than the standard six figure. Dana and Kimbo will play up the words, build the brand, play to Kimbo's star power.
Mon, 06/08/09 - 07:37
That's just wrong. BC's good enough that I have to wonder why he didn't already have a UFC contract. I'm betting he'll walk away with it.
Mon, 06/08/09 - 08:28
On one level this is all wrong.. Nelson should not have to go on TUF to earn a shot into the UFC. He is the most under rated heavy weight BY FAR! On the other hand, BIG COUNTRY wins this contest hands down, or up.. Remember this. BC will be fighting on the finale.
Mon, 06/08/09 - 08:40
I hope there are a few scenes of Rampage and Kimbo on a boat fishing in a fountain at Lorenzo's house.They could be talking about life lessons and all the porno starlets that Kimbo knows.
Mon, 06/08/09 - 09:05
Brendan Schaub should win this. It is interesting that they added Roy Nelson though. This season will have some great ratings for sure.
Mon, 06/08/09 - 10:41
This season is gonna be AMAZING. I'm fascinated by the fact they assembled a cast of famous MMA fighters (Kimbo), respectable fighters (Nelson), and insane fighters who may or may not understand the rules of MMA (Sims). It's like Season 4 Comeback, except nobody really got there the first time. Except for Nelson, who never really fell from grace, just got kinda screwed. I would love to see an old-timer season too. MMA would come full circle if Tank could learn (and apply) a gogo.
Mon, 06/08/09 - 10:42
But then again... maybe bringing known names into the cast is a testament to the state of the heavyweight division... in every promotion..
Tue, 06/09/09 - 04:15
IF Wes Sims wins his first fight I will be surprised. Bummer Frank Mir's not coaching...BUAHAHAH. Kimbo as we all know is a wild card so lets see if he brings it or takes it.
Tue, 06/09/09 - 05:41
This is fast becoming the best season since season 3! Wes Simms.... you know I would have to agree with Luke... its to bad that Mir is not a coach... Wes could stomp on his head again or get KTFO by Frank..again. lol
Tue, 06/09/09 - 06:37
Sims vs. Kimbo...first round! Who else wants to see that train wreck? Sims getting KOed by Mir is still one of my favorite MMA moments.
Tue, 06/09/09 - 06:54
@mayhem - Come on... Season 1 produced the biggest/most UFC stars
Tue, 06/09/09 - 07:23
Swedish... yes Season 1 was the best in terms of talent... However in terms of just fun to watch season 3 had it for me. Tito and Ken going back and forth was the whole show!
Tue, 06/09/09 - 08:03
I remember Big Country saying that Joe Silva didn't jump on hiring him because he doesn't have the "UFC Look". That shit kind of made me mad. I bet he would break off Kongo's arm though.
Tue, 06/09/09 - 08:25
I'm not sure how a tourney of crappy recycled HW tomato cans from other organizations mixed in with some dudes who couldn't get on the field in the NFL is gonna be such a BFD, but if that's what floats your boat then I guess I'm happy for y'all. Personally, I'm always bored shitless watching HWs fight, and I'm bored shitless and pissless watching bad HWs fight. Bigger definitely doesn't translate into better when it comes to MMA entertainment value. Maybe I'll just watch replays of old WEC bouts on Versus instead. Now those nitro burning lil' guys I can watch all day long!
Tue, 06/09/09 - 08:49
Big Country could absolutely wreck so many of the guys already on the UFC HW roster, it's a shame they will make him go through this just to get a contract. He is a class above guys like Sims and Kimbo and a bunch of NFL rejects. I hope he wins it and breaks Sim's arm in the process.
Tue, 06/09/09 - 09:15
This is the first season of TUF that I'm actually going to watch. I'll be rooting for Big Country big time, and rooting against Kimbo. Big Country doesn't need to go on TUF to prove he deserves a contract with the UFC, he could be a heavyweight gatekeeper easilly. He definitly got robbed in his last two fights. He fucking won that fight vs. Monson hands down, the judges were blind/retarded. He also got screwed when he fought Arlovski, when the ref kept saving Andre from Roy's submissions.
Tue, 06/09/09 - 09:28
Roy Nelson, former IFL champ. Would have subbed AA except for a bad stand-up. Loves cheeseburgers. Will win TuF.
Wed, 06/10/09 - 12:42
Big Country, baby! Hell yeah. He'll probably win the finale. However, even if he doesn't, I'm sure D. White will put him under contract. Which is great and logical, considering Nelson is such a talented fighter.
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