by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Dec 14, 2011 at 4:20 pm ET A heavyweight bout between Roy Nelson (16-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) and the returning Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has been slotted for February's UFC 143 event. Werdum will jump from Strikeforce to the UFC, where he fought from 2007 to 2008, as part of the long-rumored move. MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the bout with event sources. MMAWeekly.com first reported it. UFC 143 takes place on the eve of the NFL's Super Bowl, Feb. 4, at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The night's main card airs on pay-per-view, and Nelson vs. Werdum is expected to be part of the broadcast. Nelson, who won "The Ultimate Fighter 10," likely staved off a UFC release with a third-round TKO of Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic at UFC 137 in October. Prior to the much-needed win, the fan favorite and former IFL champion suffered back-to-back decision losses to Junior Dos Santos and Frank Mir. Werdum won his first three fights after he left the UFC for Strikeforce in 2008. His first two came against Mike Kyle and Antonio Silva, and then in his next bout, he earned the 2010 World MMA Awards "Submission of the Year" trophy for his 69-second armbar/triangle choke of Fedor Emelianenko. The performance snapped Emelianenko's legendary 27-fight win streak. However, in the opening round of Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix earlier this year, Werdum suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Alistair Overeem in a flat performance.
Werdum should be able to beat Roy Nelson. There really is nothing that Roy does better than Werdum. He might have a bit more punching power, but his striking isn't really any better than Werdum's.
I think their grappling will negate each other and Roy has more power, better chin and willingness to trade. I like Nelson via KO or decision. It won't be boring because I doubt it ever hits the mat.
He was running from Big foot until Big foot got tired. Then he got brave. With Gonzaga the same shit. At least in the first fight between them Werdum kept trying to take it to the ground. Once Gonzaga got tired Werdum took advantage. Got Gonzaga down and did some GNP.
I think after Werdum subbed fedor, he thought he was the greatest BJJ guy in the world. Much like punchers fall in love with thier power, he fell in love with his submissions. that is why i think this goes to the ground.
I don't think Werdum is getting Roy to the ground unless he pulls guard. And that would be a HUGE mistake. Roy Nelson is one of the best top control guys in the division. Werdum ain't subbing him and he ain't getting back up until Roy wants to. By the way, Werdum's willingness to stand in the pocket and strike changed dramatically after the JDS fight.
His BJJ is definitely world class. Roy's is good, but I don't think he wants anything to do with Werdum on the ground.
I agree. I think Werdum's striking is underrated and Big Country's is overrated. BJJ is no contest, Werdum by a mile.
Nelson got the bigger punch and the better chin, if he wants to win this he got to turn it into a street brawl
If I hadn't heard that Nelson is good at bjj, I'd never know it from watching him fight. Are there any fights I'm not remembering where he did anything bjj-impressive? I've even caught him on some old Fightsports telecasts and don't remember anything there. Or in IFL. Or in TUF. Or in UFC. Yet, he maintains the rep. I sure do like watching him fight, though. He's sort of a much improved version of Tank Abbott.
Yeah, except Tank Abbott wasn't a BJJ black belt under Renzo Gracie. Nor did Abbott ever place at ADCC or win Grapplers Quest. It's funny but Nelson was 100% a grappler in his early MMA career. Once he joined the IFL, it seemed like he wanted to strike instead.. While it's not strictly BJJ and probably speaks more to his wrestling, Nelson's ability to maintain top control and move through people's guard is something he's demonstrated often in his career. I think lately in Nelson's career he's either fought guys that he can't get to the ground or guys he knew he could out-strike.
Also remember that Wedum is significantly bigger than Nelson. He's 6' 4" and a soild 250. Roy is 6' fat and soft.
