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If you haven’t already heard of Kyle “The Monster” Nelson, it’s time to take note.
Arguably the best mixed martial arts fighter to ever come out of Muskoka, the Monster will be looking to push his professional record to a perfect 7-0 when he takes on the similarly undefeated Adrian Hadribeaj at TXC Legends 6 this upcoming Saturday, September 12.
The fight will be the biggest of Nelson’s career, and with the TXC World Lightweight Championship on the line, the Huntsville native is eager to show the world he is ready to take the next step in establishing himself as one of Canada’s top MMA fighters.
“I’m feeling good, this is a good fight for me,” says Nelson, currently ranked as the number two featherweight fighter in Ontario, and fifth overall in the country. “It’s at the 155-pound (lightweight) division, which is heavier than I normally fight at, but given the situation and the fact that they’re putting a belt on the line I thought it would be worth moving up a weight class.”
The promotional poster for Nelson’s upcoming title fight to be held this Saturday, September 12 in Novi, Michigan
Billed as the top Maple Leaf matchup of September by topmmsnews.com, Nelson is eager to continue his domination using his signature, destructive style, completely at odds with the polite, entirely Canadian demeanour he has outside of the ring.
“I’m kind of a shy guy, a quiet guy, but when I’m fighting I’m the exact opposite,” Nelson remarks gravely. “I’m always moving forward, I’m the aggressor, usually the bigger, stronger one.”
He pauses to chuckle.
“I’m the bad guy I guess.”
Nelson previously spent a month this summer working with Team Alpha Male at the Ultimate Fitness gym in California, home of some of the best MMA fighters in the world, supplementing a training regimen that typically has a much more local focus. When he’s not perfecting his strikes and submissions south of the border, the co-owner of Huntsville’s 24 Hrs Fitness splits time between House of Champions in Hamilton, Para Bellum in Oakville, and Muskoka Kickboxing in Bracebridge.
“Between those three gyms, I get everything I need, from Muay Thai and kickboxing to professional sparring, wrestling and jiu-jitsu.”
The Monster’s dream of competing professionally in a combative sport began at a young age, when he was just four years old. “It was right after I saw Rocky, I decided I wanted to be a boxer,” he reminisces. “But back then, nothing really came of it cause there’s not a lot of boxing going on in Huntsville. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I started training seriously. Being a bit older I could travel a bit, so I found Muskoka Kickboxing and things kind of took off from there.”
It was also around that time, in 2005, that the UFC production of The Ultimate Fighter first came out on television as the sport’s popularity began to grow. After seeing the combination of various fighting styles and techniques in the rapidly developing world of mixed martial arts, Nelson knew he had found his calling.
Officially training as an MMA fighter, the Monster began dominating the local circuit of amateur fights throughout high school and his late teens, and was soon ready to take his game to the next level. As with many young talents in the sport, however, he quickly realized he needed sponsorship in order to make his dream a reality.
Nelson now finds ways to give back to the community that supported him by sponsoring events such as this charity BBQ for the Alzheimer Society at 24 Hrs Fitness
“Moose Delaney’s was the start, and a huge turning point in my career,” says Nelson. “I was 18 and nobody really believed that this little kid from Huntsville could go on and be an MMA fighter. I started talking to [Moose Delaney’s Sports Bar and Grill owner] Dan Barkwell, who supports a lot of local sports, and that’s when the Moose stepped up and started helping me out. Once I got him backing me I seemed a little more legitimate. I went on to win some fights and got the ball rolling from there.
Turning pro in 2012, Nelson has since been able to experience one of his dreams first-hand; trying out for the very show that inspired his passion nearly a decade ago. This past April, he auditioned for The Ultimate Fighter in Las Vegas with 600 other MMA hopefuls. Unfortunately for Nelson (and unknown to him at the time), the show was only recruiting fighters to showcase in their upcoming USA vs. Europe television series, meaning the young Canadian never had a chance to make the cut.
“It’s unfortunate that they didn’t want to give anything away before the tryout started, but I never even have a chance to get on the show. That being said, some of the guys that made it have records of 5-0, 5-1, right around where I’m at, and if it was an open tryout I think I would have made it too.“
The explosive fighter hasn’t let the disappointment slow him down. Nor did Nelson let the cancellation of an earlier title fight this summer for the featherweight belt against Jeremy Kennedy deter him from his training. It was a fight Nelson deserved after a decisive victory against former Olympic wrestler Ainsley Robinson in his last pro bout.
Kyle along with his wife, Stacy, and one-year-old son
“Nobody thought I was going to win,” he recalls. “My opponent was pretty well known, and being of that ‘Olympic calibre’ he had a lot of people following him. So when I went out and beat him in 42 seconds, I think some of those people realized just how good I am. I’m at the same calibre as this Olympic-level athlete, I’m just competing in a sport that doesn’t have an Olympic outlet.”
Now, with a belt on the line, Nelson looks to continue to push towards his ultimate goal of fighting in the UFC.
“That’s definitely the plan,” says the Monster. “The UFC is the only place where you can financially support yourself by fighting. Everywhere else you need to have a part time job, or a full time job, along with trying to train and compete. I want to get there and take home the belt, and let everyone know I’m the best featherweight fighter out there.”
To support Kyle, and for updates on his coming title fight, follow The Monster on Facebook and Twitter.
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