Roy Nelson still unclear what a Blackzilian actually is ...

Quote :: Roy Nelson (17-7 MMA, 4-3 UFC) admits he's disappointed that he won't be facing his opposing "The Ultimate Fighter 16" coach at the show's live finale.

Then again, he also says he's not surprised in the least that Shane Carwin withdrew from the fight.

Considering this is actually the second time a proposed Carwin fight didn't come to fruition, Nelson said he's not exactly sold on trying for a third time. Besides, he's got Blackzilian Matt Mitrione (5-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) in his sights right now – even if he's not sure what a Blackzilian actually is.

"It's basically back to square one," Nelson told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I thought I was going to get to beat the guy up at the end of the season, and it was kind of a letdown."

Nelson and Carwin were expected to meet at this month's The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale event, which takes place Dec. 15 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. However, Carwin injured his knee and was forced out of the contest.

While the announcement came as a disappointment to many fans, Nelson said he wasn't exactly shocked.

"Actually, I figured something like that was going to happen," Nelson said. "It's not the first time he's pulled out of a fight with me."

Carwin and Nelson were originally scheduled to fight in January 2011 at UFC 125. However, Carwin had neck and back pain which ultimately required surgery, and he withdrew from the propsed bout. Carwin has fought just once since, suffering a unanimous-decision loss to then-contender Junior Dos Santos.

Bad blood has since built between the jovial Nelson and the stoic Carwin, and UFC officials hoped to capitalize on that rivalry by squaring them off as opposing coaches on "TUF 16." Nelson, though, said he was never too sure the fight would actually take place.

"I was just kind of getting through the day," Nelson admitted. "I really didn't care. If he showed up, he showed up. If he didn't, he didn't.

"For somebody that said he wanted to punch me in my face, I guess he really didn't want to punch me in my face too bad."

Once Carwin withdrew from the bout, the UFC was in search of a replacement. The answer came in the form of Mitrione, who appeared as a contestant alongside Nelson on "The Ultimate Fighter 10," a season "Big Country" ultimately won.

Mitrione actually contacted UFC matchmaker Joe Silva to request the bout, though Nelson isn't sure exactly why.

"That's something that you'd have to ask Matt, but you just have to be careful what you wish for," Nelson said.

The pair both served under Rashad Evans on "TUF 10," a season in which Mitrione was considered a bit of an outcast. Still, Nelson said he always had a bit of an affinity for the man they called "Meathead" and did his best to help Mitrione improve during his tenure on the show.

"I think I was the only one that actually tried to help him in the house," Nelson said.

Mitrione, a former pro footballer, actually made his professional MMA debut on the The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale and has since earned a 5-1 record in the UFC. While the quality of his opponents during that time don't exactly match up to those of Nelson, it's a better mark than the 4-3 record put together by his upcoming opponent. Mitrione currently trains with the Blackzilian squad in Florida, and Nelson admitted that the pair's time in the "TUF" house isn't really all that valuable in terms of prepping for this matchup.

"I think he's come a long way from there," Nelson said. "He's a Blackzilian now, whatever that is. I'm not sure if it's like a black millionaire or a black Brazilian or what. I'm still trying to figure out what that is.

"But he has a better record in the UFC then I do, and if you're in the UFC, you're the best in the world."

Mitrione is probably best known for a May 2010 win over streetfighting sensation Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson

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love that pick of Nelson there. It looks like some one stole his cheeseburger or some thing.

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