UFC 161 Nelson's last fight on contract

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                                UFC 161 Nelson's last fight on contract

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                    <p>The way the UFC normally operates is that it's athletes are offered new contracts with one bout left on their existing contract. This allows the fighter to usually get a bit a pay bump on what their last bout would be, but also allows the UFC to lock them in for a new term. Roy Nelson however will be fighting at UFC 161 and it will be the last bout on a contract.</p>

Should Nelson lose he potentially would be dropped from the UFC and certainly would not be in a good negotation position. However, should he win impressively, he will either use it to negotiate a better contract with the UFC or possibly play the field and see what the market may bear in another organization. Nelson and White spoke to the Las Vegas Sun about the situation:

His potential resigning with the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion is already a contentious subject, but Nelson promises it will have no tangible impact on his performance. He claims to not know the current status of negotiations.

“I have no idea,” Nelson said, smirking. “I have people for that.”

He’s on the last fight of his deal and we owe him a fight,” White said. “He’s not giving us any extensions.”

White reported that the UFC offered Nelson an extension that he turned down, prompting the boss to blast the fighter by referring to him as “the smartest guy on Earth” and “a (expletive) genius.”

Nelson responded in a manner suitable to his quirky personality: He printed hundreds of T-shirts with the slogan and began selling them on his website. The “smartest guy on Earth” T-shirts are nearly sold out, according to Nelson.

“I just thought it was freaking humorous,” Nelson said. “It’s the best compliment Dana has ever said to me. We’ve got these fighter conduct rules about what we’re allowed to say, and I think the president and (CEO) Lorenzo (Fertitta) represent the organization so they’re held to a higher standard, and it was the best compliment anyone could ever say.”

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LOL This is such a Roy Nelson move, it's awesome. He's taking a gamble -- he's not being dumb and he's not being smart.

If he wins, everyone will say awesome, he's got Zuffa by the balls (although it's hardly a huge fight to win), and if he loses everyone here will be blasting him and making fat jokes.

Either way I'm glad he's keeping his swagger, and as always, just laughing off the hate he gets

He will be fine as long as he wins in the Peg.

Unwariestpickle - Either way I hope they work something out. Nelson will never be a UFC champion but he's a talented guy and he's always in exciting fights.

That's why I've never understood the friction he gets -- he's got KO power, insane chin and high level BJJ

Even better that he's fat and looks like a hick, I godamn love seeing a dude with a mullet and gut who can still wreck. My only real gripe with Nelson has always been the same, I fear his physique isn't just a body type issue, but indicative of a real laziness...

At least when I read about his personal, garage training camps -- assuming he still does those. Now if he did miraculously cut to 205, well that'd be pretty awesome

Hope they keep Roy. I'll always order a big County PPV. Definitely a star they don't want to lose. Of course Dana usually puts his personal gripes light years ahead of his business though, so who knows.

MattyECB - LOL This is such a Roy Nelson move, it's awesome. He's taking a gamble -- he's not being dumb and he's not being smart.

If he wins, everyone will say awesome, he's got Zuffa by the balls (although it's hardly a huge fight to win), and if he loses everyone here will be blasting him and making fat jokes.

Either way I'm glad he's keeping his swagger, and as always, just laughing off the hate he gets


It's a ballsy move but there's too much risk with minimal, if any, reward.



No disrespect to Stipe, but how does Roy have the UFC by the balls if he wins Saturday night?

Wouldn't be surprised to see him go to Nick's WAR promotion and other name fighters following soon after.

He's a lot smarter than Dana thinks he is.

Hope they can work something out. Phone Post 3.0

My guess is they work it out before his last fight...

zuffa will likely have an exclusive negotiating period, then roy will test the market and zuffa will have an option to match whatever offer he gets.

if zuffa was a scumbag organization they could simply pretend to match Roys, or Rampages deal and keep them in court for over a year... but instead they'll just let them go if they dont come to terms.

If Zuffa wants to keep Roy they will match and it's a done deal.

If they think the price is high enough to hurt Bellator they will let him go to take more cash out of Bellator's talent signing pool.

Ocean6 - My guess is they work it out before his last fight...

His last fight is in 3 days.

He is def gonna test the market and see what Bellator will offer.

I wish some one could post a pic of John Malkovich playing "Teddy KGB" in the movie Rounders saying that. "Pay that man his money!". Edited.

It's interesting, 24k to show & 24 to win seemed really low to me but then I remember he was on and won TUF. I guess at the time he figured it was easier to fight for 6 weeks and win that tournament then it was to fight in lesser organizations for a couple years at 5 or 12k a pop hoping to get a call up. He probably would have been better off not winning the whole competition but still winning on fight night and getting a smaller contract. Phone Post

MMALOGIC - zuffa will likely have an exclusive negotiating period, then roy will test the market and zuffa will have an option to match whatever offer he gets.

if zuffa was a scumbag organization they could simply pretend to match Roys, or Rampages deal and keep them in court for over a year... but instead they'll just let them go if they dont come to terms.

I see what you did there.

Well stated. Phone Post

Whatever bellator or anyone else offers to Roy I'm sure zuffa already has a good idea what they're willing to pay him. A win won't help bump up that number imo, but a loss certainly can decrease it. And then Roy will have shot himself in the foot.

I'll bet that's why Dana thinks this is a dumb move by him.

And Roy's biggest problem from a negotiation standpoint is he already lost to three top guys. He's not good enough to be champ, he will be hard pressed to earn a title shot, and might be too good for a lot of up and comers. It's an expendable position that he's in and the UFC knows it. Phone Post 3.0

Immaculata - 
Grey eagle '88 - 

Pay the man Phone Post


I wish some one could post a pic of John Malkovich playing "Grandma" in the movie Rounders saying that. "Pay that man his money!".


Who has 2 thumbs and had nothing to do for 3 minutes???



 



Immaculata - 
Grey eagle '88 - 

Pay the man Phone Post


I wish some one could post a pic of John Malkovich playing "Grandma" in the movie Rounders saying that. "Pay that man his money!".


Here it is in "meme" style. Also he played Teddy KGB



 



I don't think BELLATOR would get ROY because they are going to sign KONGO and ROY just COUNTRY OVERHANDED KONGO last fight.

dubate - 
Immaculata - 
Grey eagle '88 - 

Pay the man Phone Post


I wish some one could post a pic of John Malkovich playing "Grandma" in the movie Rounders saying that. "Pay that man his money!".


Here it is in "meme" style. Also he played Teddy KGB



 




Voted up. Sorry, I initially got the name wrong. Malkovich was Teddy KGB. Thank you for posting!