Roy Nelson

Roy Nelson was so excited about his Bellator contract that, after signing in May, he asked the promotion to book him for action in June.

His new bosses had other plans, adding the heavyweight to next week’s Bellator 183 card instead. But Nelso (22-14 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who meets Javy Ayala (10-5 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) in his promotional debut, isn’t mad. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

“Big Country’s” eagerness to return speaks to an enthusiasm that had gone missing somewhere along his 19-fight UFC stint.

“As soon as I signed with Bellator, that very day, there was definitely an excitement and a relief where you’re just like, ‘I can’t wait to get out there and do this,'” Nelson told MMAjunkie ahead of the Sept. 23 event, which airs live on Spike from SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

Before joining Bellator, Nelson said he was experiencing the type of feeling lot of people who spend long enough in the same workplace can relate to: as if he was just time-punching. While some deterioration is to be expected in an eight-year relationship, Nelson has some specific gripes with how things were going in his former home.

“The one thing I’ve learned is I’ve gotten beat damn pretty hard with the UFC, where I learned that the belt – I used to love that belt,” Nelson said. “The belts actually meant something. But what I learned about the UFC is that UFC belts don’t mean (expletive). And I mean it doesn’t mean (expletive).

“The reason why is you can come off losses, you can move up four weights, you can be whatever. ‘Oh, we’ve got super fights’ and (expletive) like that. Or, ‘I’m a three-time champion.’ I’m a lightweight and heavyweight and whatever you want to call it and be like, they can make up titles and do whatever.”

One of the things Nelson loves about Bellator is the tournament format, which suited him quite well in his victorious “The Ultimate Fighter 10” run. Considering his candid character, who’s even gotten in trouble for his outbursts, one can see why.

“It takes the politics out,” Nelson said. “I’m just not really good with politics. Politics is really not one of my strong points, and I’ll be the first to admit that. But when it comes to fighting, I know how to fight. And that’s one thing I’m really good at: It’s a straight fight.”

Nelson wants to get back to enjoying the process, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have more concrete goals for his future. In fact, the fan favorite is still very much looking to get the one glory that eluded him in a somewhat inconsistent UFC run: a title.

Of course, it’s not every day you see a 41-year-old fighter excited about starting a title run. But with the proper drive and right inspiration, why shouldn’t Nelson aim higher?

“I can’t wait to actually fight for the Bellator belt,” Nelson said. “First, I’ve got to get through Javy. And if I can fight for the belt on the 24th, I’ll fight for the belt on the 24th. I’m ready to go.

“Training with Randy (Couture), you know, he won the (UFC heavyweight) belt at 43. So I’ve still got time.”

As for the argument that the 29-year-old Ayala, a relatively obscure name that has yet to appear on top contender lists, is not the right opponent to get him the shot? Nelson has a rebuttal for that, too. And this time, even the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie rankings system got a piece of his mind.

“I think you guys still have Josh Barnett in there,” Nelson said. “And isn’t Josh Barnett like on steroids or something like that? Suspended? So it all really depends on what you guys consider rankings.

“If you use MMA math: Javy knocked out Sergei (Kharitonov). Sergei’s knocked out (Alistair) Overeem, (Fabricio) Werdum. And then he got to the age thing. So if you put the pen and paper, you’re like, ‘Hey, he’s like the No. 3 guy in the world.'”

Ayala comes off said knockout of MMA vet Kharitonov at Bellator 163, which added a second straight win to his record. Nelson, in turn, comes off a decision loss to Alexander Volkov at UFC on FOX 24 back in April. Nelson has won two of his past four, though, with a knockout over Antonio Silva and a decision over Jared Rosholt in the mix.

As for what we can expect from the showdown? Some good old fashioned “Big Country” action, of course.

“All I care about is, I’m going to go out there and be Roy Nelson, and I’m going to get me a win,” Nelson said. “That’s all we’re going to do for the fans. We’re going to get fans excited; I’m going to rub my belly. They’ll see me get up on the cage. Everybody’s going to go (hashtag) belly rub. It’s going to trend on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook.”

For more on Bellator 183, visit the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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