Being in a main event won't faze Gunnar Nelson, a huge celebrity in his native Iceland
Gunnar Nelson has never been in a main event until now. That doesn’t mean he isn't used to being in the spotlight.
There likely isn't a fighter in the UFC with a bigger following in his home country than Nelson. Iceland's population is only 323,002 (less than that of Staten Island), but just about every single one of those people knows who Nelson is and follows his career.
"Gunnar is probably more known in Iceland than Conor McGregor is known in Ireland," Nelson's father Halli said. "In Iceland, I think everybody knows who Gunnar Nelson is. Every single person knows who he is."
It's obviously a qualitative conclusion, but it sure seems that way. I have first-hand experience. When I visited Iceland in August, there was an article on the gossip page of the national newspaper all about Nelson's haircuts -- complete with photos. I asked dozens of people in the capital of Reykjavik and surrounding areas if they knew who Nelson was. Every single one of them did and said they watch his fights.
One woman, who admitted she wouldn’t know anything about MMA otherwise, theorized that Nelson might be the second most famous person in the country after Bjork, the singer.
Want to know how famous @GunniNelson is in Iceland? Here's a story about his hairdos on the gossip page of the paper. pic.twitter.com/kxHJANQYB9
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) August 21, 2014
"I'm used to it," Nelson said of his fame. "It may be weird at first. You get used to it. It's just the way it is. You learn to love it."
Nelson (13-0-1) can't get a cup of coffee in his downtown Reykjavik neighborhood without every single person around knowing exactly who he is. So, being in the main event Saturday at UFC Fight Night on Fight Pass against Rick Story in Stockholm, Sweden isn't really going to faze him.
"When you're used to all that attention and everyone knowing who you are, you probably aren't going to mind much," Nelson said.
Quite honestly, there isn't much that jars Nelson. His expression rarely changes. Nelson has the stoicism befitting someone from a land named Iceland. He's not very excitable and admits to not really being a fan of doing interviews.
"I'm not really too much outspoken and I'm not a very vocal person," Nelson said. "I like the sport, I like to fight, I like to train, I like to be with my friends, but I'm not really that much into all the other media stuff and all that comes with it."
Nelson, 26, kind of just wants to be left alone and that attitude is respected in Iceland. Seeing him around isn't really a big deal for the locals. It's a rather tight-knit community, which is why a native son succeeding on a big stage is a massive source of pride.
Nelson would be an incredible drawing card for a UFC event in Iceland, but the country is devoid of big arenas. Justin Timberlake held a concert in front of more than 17,000 at a stadium in Kopavogur, a suburb of Reykjavik, in August, but that was mostly standing room. If there were a fitting venue, Nelson competing in Iceland would be a huge event.
"Everybody there would go to it," Nelson said. "However big the stadium, it would sell out."
When Nelson fought Zak Cummings in July at UFC Fight Night in Dublin, an Iceland television station carried the bout and it was also aired on the radio. Halli is not sure of the actual numbers, but was told it was record ratings.
The country will surely be watching Nelson again Saturday against Story. Nelson is ranked No. 12 among welterweight contenders and Story is unranked, but this is by far the toughest fight of Nelson's career. Story is a rugged, athletic wrestler with power in his hands. He also owns a victory over current welterweight champion Johny Hendricks.
"A convincing win over him will definitely shoot me up again," said Nelson, a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and dominant force on the ground. "It's just a good test. I'm excited to go up against him."
But pressure? Nelson isn't feeling any. When all eyes seem to be on him every day while he's home, it's difficult for him to feel any nerves being in a UFC headliner.
"On a daily basis, he'll walk downtown and we'll maybe get one or two people come up to him or we'll get a 'job well done,'" Halli Nelson said.
There will be plenty more of the latter coming up if he gets by Story. Iceland will be watching.
