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Do you think Roy Nelson will make his way to a UFC Heavyweight Title fight? How many fights away do you think he is?
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
I'm equally astounded by the fact that we're talking about Roy Nelson and a title shot as I am that we're having the same conversation about Mark Hunt. That's called foreshadowing, ladies and germs. If Hunt defeats JDS in May, I book Werdum vs. Cain (assuming a Werdum win over Nogueira in June) and Hunt versus Nelson. Under that scenario, Hunt vs. Nelson would be for a title shot. Who in their right mind would not want to see Hunt vs. Nelson? If anyone can force Nelson to take a fight to the ground, it's Markoh Huntoh.
C.J. TUTTLE, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Absolutely, following the model that UFC has already created for themselves, the dude wins fights and people love to hate him. What more do they need? I want to see him attempt to run through Cormier, and a revitalized Junior dos Santos. But due to the lack of depth in the heavyweight division, aside from some terrible losses, it's inevitable there will be a showdown between Big Country and the current champion.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I think Nelson is two big wins away from getting a number one contender's fight. He needs to show that he can beat the better fighters in the division. If Nelson can get those three wins, he'll get his title shot. I think Nelson can do it, but he's going to need some things to fall his way. I don't think he can win the title, but he can earn a shot at it.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
If I say yes, I am going to feel like an asshole for doing so because I vehemently dislike Roy Nelson. If I say no I am going to feel like an idiot if he makes his way into a title shot. So I am going to cautiously answer "Yo." Nelson has the power and chin to stand with anyone in the world of MMA, much less the UFC. He has been hit by the best and knocked out just about everyone he's defeated in recent memory. He does have a glass ceiling, though, his cardio is garbage, his beard makes me think he's going to pull a full slab of ribs out of it in the middle of a fight, and the rubbing his belly thing has gotten old. He's getting up there in age, but would I rule it out? Yo. :-)
TONY BECERRA, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
If Roy Nelson keeps doing what he did on Saturday night it's only a matter a time before he is fighting for the title. In fact, a fight for the number one contender could be as soon as his next fight. Either Cormier or Hunt or both by decisive win before he fights for the title.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I do think he will win his way into a title shot because the heavyweight division is not very deep. He is two fights away from a title shot if he can beat two top contenders. Nelson will be a handful for whomever has the title when he fights for it. His striking and chin are both really strong. His size is something that we all have a tendency to laugh at, but he is a very large individual and is hard to move. I do not realistically think he will win a title, but he will get a title shot some time in 2014
ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Roy Nelson will eventually get there, and with the next card having a heavyweight tournament feel to it (two top contenders against each other and the champion against the number one contender), Nelson has a shot. Not only is the guy talented, but I can see this being a case of a fighters popularity forcing the UFC to give the said fighter an opportunity at gold, especially if Nelson can dispatch whoever the UFC lines up next for him. One more impressive win should do it for "Big Country" in order for him to contend for the championship.
DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK COLUMNIST
Just like his previous attempts; he’ll come up short the minute he comes up against someone elite. He's a very solid gatekeeper and entertaining fighter in the division, but he's not good enough to get a title shot. He's more than capable of knocking out Mark Hunt in a 'swing for the fences' type of fight. Daniel Cormier and his ability to press and stifle Nelson using his wrestling might just be one step too far.
[Roy Nelson art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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