With the appeal of Ultimate Fighting on an unprecedented rise, BET has decided to strike while the iron's hot by introducing television audiences to its own hybrid reality show/fighting contest with 'Iron Ring' which airs Tuesdays at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

The show integrates celebrities from music to sports (from Ludacris to Floyd Mayweather) as they manage some of the top competitors in the industry.

The action is raw and often unpredictable as these men beat each other to a pulp as they vie for the ultimate $100,000 payday.

Recently, Blackvoices' own Denver C. Louis got a chance to talk to Nelly on a few topics ranging from his own squad, Team Nelly, to who's winning if the celebrity managers ever decided to step in the ring. Here's what he had to say:


What made you want to get involved with the Iron Ring?

It was just another chance to represent St. Louis, just another chance to put something out there that I thought we would be good at. And it was a good opportunity for some young fighters to make their mark and evaluate who we think may have a future.

What did you first think when you were approached with the idea?

I really wanted to know what it was about. I didn't want to put these brothers out there and do something that I didn't think they could benefit from and I didn't want to be somebody that was trying to use them in a certain kind of way other than them succeeding and if they succeeded, what would be the right level for them to go. They would have a chance to continue on. Once they kind of explained it to me, it was kind of like... you know these brothers are going to get a chance to be promoted the right way and they are going to be in a controlled environment. After my man James who is my captain as well as the guy who really put this team together, I wasn't going to act like I know a whole lot about it, but I understand heart, determination and the will to win. So that's what I brought to the table and he brought everything else as far as training these brothers because we were looking for people that could really get the job done.

So what kind of fighters was your squad looking for when you were rounding out your team?

Just people who had that determination, that fire in their eyes; the one who had that passion to really want to win and to represent where we from. St Louis, we got a lot of things on our shoulders right now and I think these brothers really wanted to come together on a whole different level.

So out of all the team owners, who do you think is winning in a throw down between all of ya'll?

(Laughing) That's the question of the day right? Well as long as we can tie Floyd's hands together behind his back, everybody else has got a shot. I don't know, it's kind of rough to say man. I think Floyd would probably get that one unless we could put his hands in his pocket.

Have you ever considered stepping in the ring at all?

It's funny man, I used to box since I was eight or nine years old. But I gave it all up and my boxing career was short-lived. I got into other sports and stuff... and other than doing the training and exercises and all that, just trying to stay fit, it's been nothing serious like that. I mean I got into a lot of fights growing up; I got kicked out of like four schools for it but it was all cool.

Who was the biggest challenge to your squad (Team Nelly)?

All of them were pretty tough, but I would probably say, Floyd's team was real tough because I think he understands a little bit more than some of the rest of the guys as far as that goes. But we the Lou baby, we ain't shying down because it's going down! We ain't big talkers, we just big achievers, we get it done, by all means.

Now you're noted as being a big time athlete, is there a sport that you think you could have succeeded in or even went pro in if you weren't a big time rapper?

Baseball was my thing, I've been to a lot of different camps and stuff like that, so I think I could have made a pretty good go at that. But I was pretty good at all the rest of the sports, but I don't think basketball would have panned out for me, but football and baseball, I think if I would have stuck with it, I would have had a shot.

What's up with your acting, are you looking at any big screen roles right now?

Well, not really, I've b een with William Morris (Agency)for about a year now, a year and a half and they've been throwing a lot of scripts at me, but it's just me trying to be comfortable in roles that I'm more familiar with. I don't want to disrespect the art form of acting and take it just because of who I am, I want to hop in there and make a good go at it. I want to take my time and really come to... not master, but be more informative of the craft.

So you're just looking to put more time towards it...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, I'm not ready to cry, but I think I can play football in a prison (laughing). You feel what I'm saying? So I can handle that role!

What do you think so many rappers are transitioning into acting?

Well I think it's because we bring our own audience. I think we come with our own audience and I think we come from a point where I think people are very interested in what we are doing out of the studio and on an everyday basis. Movies have found a way to use our marketing ability to our advantage.

Who's got the best album out right now?

It's kind of hard to say. You've a lot of good ones out there right now. If you want to go to R&B route, I mean, I love Alicia's album. You go into hip-hop and my man Kanye is doing it. I was one of the few people that had a chance to preview Lil Wayne's album in its earliest stages and I think everybody is going to be real happy with that one.

You already heard it?

Oh yeah, that's my little brother, of course. That's my little brother man, I was there when it was 30 songs, or 50 should I say, and he was just narrowing it down and I was like how the hell you gonna do that?

So what are some ill tracks to look out for on his album? What's it looking like?

My thing was 'Rumors', the one he did at the BET Awards. Just Crazy!!! You know what I'm saying. The 'Lollipop' thing, I see why... but I think people are really going to flip out when they hear his joint though. The song he did with Babyface is crazy too, you gotta check that one out