Official: Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum - UFC 143

by **Indra** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:17 am

As expected, Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is leaving Strikeforce and returning to the UFC for an upcoming fight with fellow heavyweight Roy Nelson (16-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC).

MMAjunkie.com (http://www.mmajunkie.com) passed along news of the bout this past week, and the fighters recently tweeted confirmation of the matchup.

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.

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. He hasn't fought since that June loss, which was his first since an 81-second KO defeat to now-champ Junior Dos Santos at UFC 90.

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.

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by **Indra** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:41 am

Interesting matchup, I think. Very sharply contrasting fighters and styles.

I think Fabricio absolutely has to redeem himself for his last fight. That was awful, no words can describe how terrible that fight was, and it's mostly his fault. It was supposed to be epic! Instead we got bullshit.

I am going to go with Fabricio by decision. I don't think he can submit Roy -- Nelson has never been submitted. I don't think Roy is going to get the KO either, Werdum is probably too smart for that and knows he has to make the most of his first appearance in the UFC, plus his only KO loss came at the hands of Junior. Nobody knew he was who JDS was back then because it was his first fight in the UFC.

Now that I think about it, this one might be pretty boring.

by **KingTbone2580** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:06 am

I do and finally shut up all the people who think werdum is the man

by **trappa** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:43 am

Me too.

by **colon98** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:04 am

If Werdum's has the more effective wrestling and takedowns, than he is going to win.

by **viaKO** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:13 am

Roy Nelson ViaKO

by **505MMA** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:16 am

I'm kinda on the fence about this fight.
I'm gonna be pulling for Werdum, but right this second, I'm leaning towards Nelson.

I can't make my mind up on this fight though.

by **Castrated Rhino** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:21 am

Eh, I want it to happen, but I think Werdum is just better period. Roy will have to just swing away and hope to land something big to win this imo. I don't see him being able to win a decision even if all he tries is wall n stall.

by **DreadLobster** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:28 am

I think if Roy can KO him standing early, he takes it. If not, he's either gonna end up on the ground at some point, and then he's done, or he's gonna gas, and then Werdum will pick him apart.

I am rooting for Roy (as always), and I think if I had to bet, I would bet on him.

by **duallie** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:38 am

DreadLobster wrote:I think if Roy can KO him standing early, he takes it. If not, he's either gonna end up on the ground at some point, and then he's done, or he's gonna gas, and then Werdum will pick him apart.

I am rooting for Roy (as always), and I think if I had to bet, I would bet on him.

i definitely have to agree with you here.
i too, think if roy ko's him, he takes it.

by **nmesniper** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:07 am

I think roy nelson beat frank mir in a grappling match before.Im not 100% sure about that though.It's what i heard.
I think roy will be good enough on the ground to not get choked out.I see him having the advantage with his striking skills.I think he will pull off a win.Im going for werdum though,cuz i want to see him fight frank mir next.

by **macand** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:39 am

I think Roy takes it via KO. If not that then his awesome crucifix.

by **WLR** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:43 am

Werdum will make quick work of Big Country

by **DreadLobster** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:58 am

duallie wrote:
DreadLobster wrote:I think if Roy can KO him standing early, he takes it. If not, he's either gonna end up on the ground at some point, and then he's done, or he's gonna gas, and then Werdum will pick him apart.

I am rooting for Roy (as always), and I think if I had to bet, I would bet on him.

i definitely have to agree with you here.
i too, think if roy ko's him, he takes it.

Ha ha, sorry, I guess that was a bit redundant. Wasn't thinking.

I just mean that getting an early KO is Roy's only shot in my opinion. Terrible wording. My apologies.

by **50calReaper** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:17 am

It's very clear that Werdum has the better grappling overall. We can use Mir's manhandling of Roy as a gauge on how much better Werdum really is. Plus Werdum has only been KOed once and that was by Junior Dos Santos who completely destroyed Roy standing, which to me means, he doesn't have what it takes to KO Werdum. He has the power (maybe), but not the striking ability.

Both men have great chins (they've both only been KOed once), and both have great grappling, but Werdum's is a lot more crisp and deadly and by those standards I really have to go with Werdum on this one.