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If Roy Nelson defeats Stipe Miocic at UFC 161, who could be a realistic next fight for him which would give him a chance to fight for a title afterward?
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
I believe that Roy Nelson's next fight is going to be on Spike TV with Bellator. This is the last fight on his Nelson's deal, Dana White cannot stand him, and Nelson just won't keep his mouth shut and play the game. Viacom, which owns Bellator, has clearly shifted gears and are going after high-profile UFC malcontents. And really, has there ever been a better description of Roy Nelson that didn't include the words fat or can-crusher? I don't think Zuffa wants to risk putting him in against the top-five fighter that White has challenged Nelson to defeat, because Nelson might just go out and do that, you dig? So, who's a realistic next fight for him? Most likely some Russain dude that you've never heard of, en route to a fight with Alexander Volkov some time in 2014.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
My only response to this is that I demand to see Nelson vs. Mark Hunt in a battle of the buffet champions. #NelsonHuntBuffet <- trending now.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
IF he gets by Miocic at UFC 161 he needs to beat a top five fighter. I am reasonably sure he will not do that and will remain a gate keeper to the elite of the division. I would like to see him fight Daniel Cormier in his next fight. If he can beat him then he deserves a title shot. I am of the opinion that he is close to the end of his career with the UFC. He is not a company man and he makes a lot of money. The UFC has done a good job of cutting the top ranked fighters that it feels like cannot fight for a title. I look for him to have no more than two fights in the UFC.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I'm all for a Nelson vs. Daniel Cormier fight. I'd like to see that. I think a win for Nelson here would give him a chance to at least fight for a title shot if not outright get the title shot. For the record, I would pick Nelson in this fight. I think he's got the savvy and guile to pull the win out.
C.J. TUTTLE, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Big Country is on a tear, I think he's at his peak and is ready for a title shot. Now, has he had his chances? Yes. Has he performed well when positioned against the would be number one contenders at that point and time? No. But, the Roy Nelson of 2013 is different, and ever since the fight that never was between he and Shane Carwin, I see a fighter primed for the spotlight. The losses he has suffered have been decisions, and the one glaring loss on his record has to be Frank Mir. People still hold this guy in high regard, so if Mir gets through Barnett, I would like a rematch between the two, propelling Nelson to a number one contenders match between the other names in the division.
CAMERON LYMAN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Fabricio Werdum of course. I know, Werdum beat Nelson not so long ago, but in the cramped Heavyweight division, we did just see Bigfoot Silva get a shot at the belt after being Hulk smashed by the Champ. Beating Werdum decisively will put Big Country at the top of the heap. If not Werdum, the winner of Travis Browne and Alistair Overeem will do just fine to keep him propped up at the top of the division.
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