Ultimate Fighting Column: Ben Nguyen the most wanted fighter for UFC 193 Melbourne

UNKNOWN among mainstream Australian sports fans, Ben Nguyen is the computer nerd who blew up a UFC poll. The most wanted man for UFC 193 Melbourne.

UFC - Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Alptekin Ozkilic (beard) and Ben Nguyen Flyweight bout. Photo Sarah Reed.

BEN Nguyen, not so long ago, drove the Geek Mobile. Well, that’s what everyone called it.

A rattling Volkswagen which, painted up like an American cop car, was the key mode of transport for both he and fellow members of his infamous ‘Geek Squad’.

“It was a computer repair company,’’ the UFC flyweight explains. “We’d drive all over the place, fixing people’s software and other things like that.

“So that was our name — the Geek Squad. We could solve almost any problem too ... (laughs) although mostly it was removing viruses guys had picked up from accessing porn sites.”

Unknown among mainstream Australian sports fans, Nguyen is the computer nerd who blew up a UFC poll.

A fighter who, despite only making his Octagon debut a fortnight ago in Adelaide, attracted almost 50 per cent of voting when The Daily Telegraph recently posted an online poll asking: Which Aussie fighter would you most like to see at UFC 193 in Melbourne?

And, largely, Nguyen did it through the power of the internet.

“When I first saw your poll on Twitter last week I thought ‘okay, interesting’,’’ the 26-year-old explains.

“But then when the UFC retweeted the link ... I knew the results would be on their radar so I got onto social media. Told people I needed their support again ...”

Nguyen, see, is already something of a cyberspace superstar.

Back in April, going viral thanks to his starring role in a homemade video entitled: ‘Tattooed Bully Acts Tough And Gets Knocked Out in 20 Seconds”.

Starting out at a 2014 weigh-in, the clip shows Nguyen continually being pushed and shoved about by his heavily inked rival. The film then switches to fight night ... and the flyweight dubbed ‘Ben 10’ icing his rival in 20 seconds.

In the three months since, Nguyen’s heroics been viewed by over 10 million people — including UFC officials who, first, signed him to their books then watched as he win his debut, against Alptekin Ozkilic, with a first round knock out.

And so with that in mind, Nguyen copied our poll and set to work — rallying fans on Twitter, Facebook, even Reddit.

“It’s like the front page of the internet,’’ he explains of Reddit. “A big community where posts get shared, voted up, it eve enables people to help each other out.

“Essentially, it’s a lot more than just funny cat videos.”

And for a second time, the fighter dubbed Ben 10 was a hit.

“It’s funny because I’ve been going on that Reddit site for eight years,’’ he grins. “And never once did I’d become some sort of internet favourite.

“I can’t believe the support I’m getting. It’s incredible.”

Ben Nguyen in action in Adelaide

Hunt backs Weidman

AUSTRALIAN heavyweight Mark Hunt says Chris Weidman will retain his middleweight title at UFC 187, insisting: “The guy will choke out whoever he fights ... he’s just that good”.

Weidman faces Brazilian Vitor Belfort on a blockbuster Las Vegas card this Sunday, with Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson and Daniel Cormier also competing for the UFC light heavyweight title.

Yet while Hunt is tipping New York native Weidman to retain his belt via stoppage, fellow Aussies James Te Huna, Richie Walsh and Brendan O’Reilly are all backing Belfort in an upset.

Says O’Reilly: “Weidman has show great ability to ground his opponents and control them, but you can’t hide from Belfort’s speed and explosive striking.

Mark Hunt says Chris Weidman will retain his middleweight title

“I have a feeling we may see the ‘old Vitor’ bring some fireworks to the Octagon and stop Weidman with an explosive barrage of strikes.”

Walsh agrees, predicting a Belfort TKO finish in the early stage of round five. And as for Te Huna?

“Vitor,’’ he laughs. “Because he’s representing all of Sydney’s west with that haircut.”

Flyweight Richie Vaculik, meanwhile, agrees with Hunt — tipping the defending champ.

“Weidman should take out Vitor,’’ Vaculik insists. “He’s too well rounded, too tough and is catching Vitor after a long lay off, which will work in his favour.”

Cormier favourite to become champion

DANIEL Cormier is the overwhelming favourite to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion — with 80% of Australian fighters polled tipping ‘DC’ for the win.

Speaking with The Daily Telegraph yesterday, Mark Hunt, James Te Huna, Richie Walsh and Brendan O’Reilly all tipped Cormier to make amends for his January title loss to Jon Jones, who has since been stripped of the belt.

Northern beaches fighter Walsh said: “Cormier will grind out a win over Rumble.

“He has the gas tank and ability to control the fight from start to end. I think it’ll go the full five rounds with DC scoring multiple take-downs and scoring from the top.”

O’Reilly and Te Huna both predicted a win for DC by decision, while Hunt said: “DC is going to Gogoplata ‘Rumble’ Johnson, because he can — that’s the kind of skill he’s got.”

Only Sydney fighter Richie Vaculik is backing Johnson.”Rumble is on a devastating tear and he brings that momentum into this fight,’’ he says. “He’ll be full of confidence and that will get him over the line to take the win.”

UFC champions heading to Australia

STILL on UFC 187, and Australian fans also have a vested interest in the huge MGM Grand event — with at least one of the champions likely to be headed Down Under come November.

While UFC officials are remaining tight-lipped about the potential make-up of UFC 193 in Melbourne, the whispers grow louder that one of those leaving the Octagon with a belt Sunday will feature.

Chris Weidman is the early favourite, given his standing and the fact he was here last November watching the UFC Sydney event. However there would also be huge interest around the first title defence for light heavyweight challengers Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson, who this week shrugged off suggestions they were fighting for a ‘paper title’ following the suspension of Jon Jones.

Said Johnson: “It does get a little annoying ... it’s almost like people see us as some chumps or something. But we didn’t make John do what he did — that was his own doing.

“We’re top of the food chain right now so it does get aggravating when people say, ‘Oh yes, you’re the paper champ’. In my eyes and in my heart, whoever wins this title is the absolute champion of the weight class ... we’re the number one, the best.”

UFC 187 screens live on Main event from noon. Undercard bouts air on UFC Fight Pass at 8.30am, before moving to Fox Sports from 10am.

ROBERT Whittaker could be continuing his incredible rise in Las Vegas next month, with moves underway to have the former Cityrail employee feature at the International UFC Fight Week.

This year held in the days before UFC 189: Aldo v McGregor, the annual event brings together the best and most exciting fighters from around the world for a series of fan events, media sessions and a huge UFC Expo. Whittaker’s profile in the US is growing quickly following upset wins over Americans Clint Hester and Brad Tavares.

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Originally published as Ultimate Fighting Column: Ben Nguyen the most wanted fighter for UFC 193 Melbourne