Is Roy Nelson a contender at HW?

I think so. Has one of the most respected ground games at HW in the UFC, yet has won all his actual UFC fights by knocking guys out. I always thought he was the type of fighter who could contend at a high level in the UFC. I have always believed he could win the title with the skills and power he has.


There is room on the list after Carwin, Cain and Dos Santos for challengers. Ideally, we'd see him fight Dos Santos next since the UFC wants Dos Santos to fight a quality HW again soon, with the winner of that fight creating a legitimate title contender. But another option is Frank Mir, which would be a compelling fight to hold in Las Vegas, the city where both fighters were born, raised and train out of. This is a great fight for Nelson because a victory here would also put his name in the title mix, and would resonate with fans. I am not sure what kind of relationship exists between the two, but both can hype fights extremely well and are bright shit talkers. Nelson also owns a grapplers quest victory over Mir in the past as well, adding more plotlines.

I love Roy, but he won't be able to hang with the big boys of that division, guys like Brock, Carwin, Cain and Dos Santos I just can't see him doing much against.

Only fight I want next for Roy is Mir, Roy knocks Frank out IMO

He is very skilled on the ground and has one touch KO power. None of these new guys are unhittable, bjj blackbelt ninjas. He could easily win the title.

Completely overpowered by Brock or Carwin

Cain is too athletic

Dos Santos would be like the AA fight standing

yes but he cant beat Brock or Carwin or maybe Cain or JDS

tolivendiewithLA wrote:

Completely overpowered by Brock or Carwin

Cain is too athletic

Dos Santos would be like the AA fight standing

Agreed

Looks like I'm the only one with Wolfy on this one. I see no reason that he couldn't win the title. He has the same one punch power that most heavies have. Actually, probably a little bit more. Then throw in his awesome grappling pedigree, and he's definitely a dangerous challenger to the title. Roy Nelson is almost certainly one of the top 5 most skilled heavyweights, he just happens to suffer athletically and in height against the higher ranked heavyweights.

I picked #1

He's a contender. He hung in there against AA. Some people think he was about to get the sub on him and they stood him up to soon. I'm not one of those people, but he was competitive nontheless.

He's got good power, and he's very crafty on the ground. There's not many HWs out there that are that well rounded. If he looked a little less obese, people would take him more seriously.

I am a Roy fan. I would love it if he could beat Brock or Carwin, I just don't see it happening. So I picked yes but not win but I hope I'm wrong.

I went no. He's the epitome of a blown up cruiserweight. Yes, when he's in top position he uses that belly very well, but he ain't gettin top position on any of the wrestlers in the division. And when on the bottom he'll be nothin more then a smallish jj player.

As far as his standup goes, Kimbo was winning that fight on the feet.

He's a crafty vet, a respectable fighter for sure, but he can't hang with the top of the division.

captain organic wrote:

I went no. He's the epitome of a blown up cruiserweight. Yes, when he's in top position he uses that belly very well, but he ain't gettin top position on any of the wrestlers in the division. And when on the bottom he'll be nothin more then a smallish jj player.

As far as his standup goes, Kimbo was winning that fight on the feet.

He's a crafty vet, a respectable fighter for sure, but he can't hang with the top of the division.

Kimbo could probably do alright against a lot of fighters in the stand up department. On the ground is where Kimbo's game falls apart.

ohiovol62 wrote:

captain organic wrote:

I went no. He's the epitome of a blown up cruiserweight. Yes, when he's in top position he uses that belly very well, but he ain't gettin top position on any of the wrestlers in the division. And when on the bottom he'll be nothin more then a smallish jj player.

As far as his standup goes, Kimbo was winning that fight on the feet.

He's a crafty vet, a respectable fighter for sure, but he can't hang with the top of the division.

Kimbo could probably do alright against a lot of fighters in the stand up department. On the ground is where Kimbo's game falls apart.

well, there is alright, and then there is championship level.

There's not alot of great hands at the HW level aside from JDS and AA. Fat ass would do fine standing. I think he would out strike Brock, Carwin, and Mur. Their shear size are where the problems arise for Roy. None of the huge UFC HWs have demonstrated themselves as technical strikers. Roy will have a problem dealing with their wrestling ability

Agreed with those who said he likely wouldn't beat Brock, Carwin, Cain or JDS... And I don't think he gets past a right Nog either. I would give him about even odds with Mir, but I would say he beats pretty much anyone else in the UFC pool... GG, Kongo, Yvel, CroCop, etc... He finishes Rothwell pretty easily at this point as well, IMO.

It wouldn't suprise me if he won the tite. I wouldn't bet on him to beat Brock, Cain, or Carwin. He is legit and I went with number 2.

bigbeastcardinal12 wrote:

It wouldn't suprise me if he won the tite. I wouldn't bet on him to beat Brock, Cain, or Carwin. He is legit and I went with number 2.

not even a little surprised? I think he can get as far as maybe a #1 contender fight but don't think he ever makes it to a title shot.

I think he's a win over JDS or Cain away from a title shot. That IMO makes him a contender. I don't see him beating either or ever getting the shot.

Contender? Sure
Serious title threat? No

LikesToFightGuy wrote:

Agreed with those who said he likely wouldn't beat Brock, Carwin, Cain or JDS... And I don't think he gets past a right Nog either. I would give him about even odds with Mir, but I would say he beats pretty much anyone else in the UFC pool... GG, Kongo, Yvel, CroCop, etc... He finishes Rothwell pretty easily at this point as well, IMO.

Yeah not so sure about that anymore, wouldn't want to see it cause I like both fighters, and wouldn't want to see Nog dropped again.

Notice I said a "right" Nog. I might take Barry and Duffee over the Nog that's looked like shit in his last 2 losses...

Roy's not going to beat Carwin,Cain,Lesnar or Dos Santos but, he'll certainly be in the mix.

number 2, legit fighter who is a threat but will not win it

I think people are over valuing the abilities and experience level of Carwin, Lesnar, Cain and Dos Santos, and failing to realize how much of a crapshoot this division is with these big bruisers.

Roy could easily beat anyone in the UFC if the cards fell his way. Unlike other situations with other divisions, you can be big and strong and have less fights on your resume than fingers on your hands, and be considered the best in the world. This tells me there is a lot of room for defeat on these fighters records.

Roy has absolutely no chance to beat Carwin, Cain, Lesnar or Dos Santos...unless he punches one of them in the face one time or unless one of them makes a rookie mistake on the mat against the BJJ wizard, that is. Both scenarios are very possible.

Don't let impressive victories over a washed up Nog, Gonzaga and Frank Mir make you think anyone is better than they are. Roy is one of the most dangerous HWs in the UFC right now and is a dark horse to win the title.

chorky777 wrote:

Looks like I'm the only one with Wolfy on this one. I see no reason that he couldn't win the title. He has the same one punch power that most heavies have. Actually, probably a little bit more. Then throw in his awesome grappling pedigree, and he's definitely a dangerous challenger to the title. Roy Nelson is almost certainly one of the top 5 most skilled heavyweights, he just happens to suffer athletically and in height against the higher ranked heavyweights.

His 1 punch power is no where near that of JDS or Carwin and Brock and Cain both hit harder than him also.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

I think people are over valuing the abilities and experience level of Carwin, Lesnar, Cain and Dos Santos, and failing to realize how much of a crapshoot this division is with these big bruisers.

Roy could easily beat anyone in the UFC if the cards fell his way. Unlike other situations with other divisions, you can be big and strong and have less fights on your resume than fingers on your hands, and be considered the best in the world. This tells me there is a lot of room for defeat on these fighters records.

Roy has absolutely no chance to beat Carwin, Cain, Lesnar or Dos Santos...unless he punches one of them in the face one time or unless one of them makes a rookie mistake on the mat against the BJJ wizard, that is. Both scenarios are very possible.

Don't let impressive victories over a washed up Nog, Gonzaga and Frank Mir make you think anyone is better than they are. Roy is one of the most dangerous HWs in the UFC right now and is a dark horse to win the title.

Same thing to you about wins over a kid fighter and a ex-football player

Roy is good, but beating those 4 guys? can't see it