After knocking out Brendan Schaub and Stefan Struve in consecutive bouts, UFC Heavyweight, Roy Nelson, has proven that he is a legitimate contender in the division. Winner of The Ultimate Fighter 10, casual fans have generally overlooked the rotund fighter simply because his body is shaped more like a circle than a bodybuilder. Now that he has two highlight reel knockouts, Nelson cannot be ignored any longer. As the MMA community has started to take notice of Nelson’s punching power, many people don’t realize that he is also a decorated black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Nelson is a bit of a throwback to the old days of MMA. He doesn’t regularly train with a high profile camp, he doesn’t pump himself full of supplements and yet he has found success. Whether or not that success continues remains to be seen.

While he may be several fights away from a title shot, it has become clear that Nelson is ready to step up in competition. In the past, Nelson has playfully called out James Toney and Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar, but he insists that he doesn’t have a preference. He’s willing to fight any opponent the UFC matches him up with.

“I don’t really make those choices. I was saying I’d rather be fighting for the belt and be done with it. It’s the UFC and there’s so many great guys, there’s so many great fights to match up with.”

With Lesnar scheduled to fight Shane Carwin for the title at UFC 116 and Cain Velasquez choosing to wait for his shot, a bout against Junior Dos Santos intrigues Nelson.

“I’d love it. I think Dos Santos deserves (a title shot) over Cain (Velasquez) just cause he’s whipped some better competition. I mean his very first fight was (Fabricio) Werdum. He’s beat up some really good guys. I think he definitely deserves a good chance or a good stab at it.”

However, Nelson does know that MMA is a business at the end of the day. Building himself up with more attention getting fights, such as Toney, suits Nelson just fine.

“It would be bigger for PR. Technically we’re just playing for PR, we’re not fighting for money, we’re fighting for PR. So then I guess James Toney would be the better fight.”

A future opponent for Nelson has yet to be named, but he knows that there are many challenges left.

“I know I won’t get Shane (Carwin) or Brock (Lesnar), they’re supposed to be fighting in July. Cheick Kongo is just coming off his win over Paul Buentello, so he’s out in the wind. Then you’ve got Dos Santos, he’s still out in the wind. You’ve got Velasquez still out in the wind.”

Should Nelson face Toney next or step up and fight an established contender? Is a bout with Dos Santos too much of a jump in the rankings at this point? Perhaps a fight with Frank Mir could be the answer. Nelson defeated Mir during a Grappler’s Quest event in 2003. That matchup could introduce the public to Nelson’s ground game.

(source: MMA Weekly)