Roy Nelson and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira weren’t fighting to be the next in line for the title shot. They were not even fighting to be the top contender.
One is a fan favourite and the other is a living legend of the sport; so likewise there is no danger of either being cut by Dana White.
What they are fighting for, however, is relevancy.
And relevancy begins with the fans.
Minotauro has built a career on putting limbs in danger, but he never got the chance in this one. In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Noguiera never looked for the takedown to get the fight where he is most comfortable.
Perhaps some of that had to do with Roy Nelson’s black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, or perhaps it was that he got dazed so early in the round that his game-plan was just a foggy haze.
Either way, the fight stayed standing and ‘Big Country’ remained patient to wind the all-time great heavyweight down and land shots whenever openings presented themselves.
And present themselves they did.
Nelson was able to land his signature overhand right three times in the round and as the saying goes – the third time is the charm. Although the first two shots had plenty behind them, staggering the big Brazilian and keeping him wobbly throughout the round, it was the third that knocked him out cold.
Nogueira was asleep before he hit the canvas and with 1:18 left in the round, the contest was finished in the same fashion as all of Nelson’s previous UFC wins – a brutal knockout.
Where Nelson goes from here is up to White and the rest of the UFC matchmakers, but a fight with Mark Hunt to solidify one as a top seven heavyweight makes some sense – and would also provide exciting fireworks for the fans.
While that fight won’t lack for excitement it certainly won’t be for a UFC title, or shot at a title any time soon and that’s okay. Sometimes the fans just want brutality, and with these two knockout artists it’s something that they’d be sure to get.
