UFC
TUF coach Roy Nelson says Dana White "wants to be a fighter, and he's not"
Aug 10, 2012 - 10:30:11 AM

DISCUSS ALL THIS IN OUR NEW MMATORCH FORUM

...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC Heavyweight Roy Nelson has always been one to speak his mind, and he's not shy about butting heads with certain people. One of those is UFC President Dana White, who in recent interviews has discussed how much of a "pain in the ass" Nelson has been thus far on The Ultimate Fighter's currently filming season.

Nelson believes White's issues with him come from a certain perspective that doesn't necessarily mesh with his, and it had an effect on things when Nelson was attempting to bring in certain coaches for the season.

"It's probably because he wants to be a fighter, and he's not," Nelson said in an interview with MMAJunkie.com. "I think we were talking about coaching or something like that, and [White's] not a coach. There's an understanding of being a fighter, and I don't think he understands."

"I'm always at the back of the bus when it comes to the UFC. I'm just trying to further MMA to the next level, hold journalism up to higher standards, holding fights to higher standards, holding promotions to higher standards, holding athletic commissions to higher standards, and even holding the fans to higher standards."

Nelson hasn't been afraid to go after White in interviews and on Twitter, where he recently commented on White's about-face regarding the issue of testosterone replacement therapy.

"The Juice is good @Danawhite says so as long as you don't over do it," Nelson wrote. "Now I know why Overeem is OK NOW! I feel like some OJ."

It's clear their working relationship will be a contentious one for the foreseeable future. How long that future may be is anyone's guess.

Penick's Analysis: I'm sure part of the reason White has so many issues with Nelson is the fact that "Big Country" will make comments like these, and challenge the UFC on things when they don't like to be challenged. That doesn't always make Nelson in the right on things, and though he wants to act like a pioneer with his actions sometimes he can come off as simply being difficult. Still, he's not off on his assessments of things all the time, either. His comments won't win him any favor from White or the UFC, but he hasn't been striving for that at all during his time in the UFC.