Issue 071
January 2011
It might be outlined in his ‘Big Country’ moniker, but Roy Nelson isn’t big on the boot-scooting genre. In reality, the heavyweight has a music taste just as well rounded as his famous physique
Don’t let the man’s rotund appearance fool you though. On top of winning The Ultimate Fighter, Roy held the IFL heavyweight title and possesses a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. His musical achievements? Less impressive.
FO: Roy, will I find any Backstreet Boys or N’Sync on your iPod?
Roy: “Actually, there’s no Backstreet Boys, but maybe 98 Degrees or something. Or Britney Spears, or Christina Aguilera, you know, Genie in a Bottle. Old-school Christina Aguilera, not the new stuff.”
What kind of music do you listen to?
“I listen to all sorts of music all the way from rap, to country, to old-school ‘80s, to ‘60s, to Johnny Cash and Marilyn Manson. So I listen to pretty much everything except punk rock.”
What kind of music do you like to train to? Just anything, or do you prefer not to listen to any kind of music?
“I can train to anything, really, it doesn’t matter. But Rocky montage-music is good. There’s a guy here at the TapouT gym that used to be a singer. He actually had some songs that made it to the radio station. He’s a like local legend. I’ve even heard it. I’m hanging out with legends here.”
What kind of music do you like to listen to when you’re just chilling at the house? Do you listen to much, or do like to keep it quiet?
“For myself it depends on my mood, really. I’m a big fan of the ‘80s and the early ‘90s. I like old NWA for rap, and I like old Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, that’s like the old classic, classic rap. But then you got country and then just straight up Lionel Richie. It’s all good.”
So what kind of iPod do you have?
“I have the iPod Nano. I also have one of those iTouches where they look like an iPhone but it’s not really an iPhone. I actually got it for a Christmas gift, I think, like a year and a half ago.”
Does your wife usually keep it or do you keep it?
“She’s usually the one that puts it on so that’s why we have to listen to Britney Spears or Dixie Chicks or something like that to do our hardcore workouts to.”
THE SHUFFLE CHALLENGE
Hit shuffle on your iPod and name the first five songs that come up. No cheating
1. Kenny Loggins – Danger Zone
“Who’s that? Oh it’s the guy that sings Danger Zone from Top Gun. Of course!”
2. Dixie Chicks – Kill Earl
“I hate that freaking song.”
3. ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic – Fat
“There always has to be some kind of ‘Weird Al’ song on your iPod. Fat is probably the best one. I came out to ‘Fat’ at The Ultimate Fighter Finale.”
4. Johnny Cash – Ring of Fire
“A classic.”
5. Keith Sweat – Twisted
“It’s like stripper music that my wife listens to. He sings, ‘I want to get you naked,’ and, ‘I want to rub you down,’ stuff like that. That’s definitely her music – for me I’d use Marvin Gaye.”
Roy Nelson spoke to Gary Alexander
