One-time UFC title challenger Shane Carwin recently revealed he was offered a UFC 131 matchup with Roy Nelson (15-5 MMA, 2-1 UFC) before "Big Country" ultimately drew a UFC 130 fight with Frank Mir.It was the second time the two were linked together, as a back injury forced Carwin to withdraw from a planned UFC 125 bout with Nelson.
But with rumors swirling that Nelson turned down the second Carwin offering, the winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 10" has a simple message: Bring it on.
"I was never ever offered another fight with Carwin," Nelson told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "If he wants that fight, I got it for him."
Nelson hasn't seen action since August 2010 when he was defeated by top heavyweight contender Junior Dos Santos. When Carwin withdrew from the proposed January fight, Nelson was left on the sidelines.
Nelson admitted the experience was frustrating.
"It's definitely frustrating when you put your time and effort into something and then the rug is kind of pulled out from underneath you," Nelson said. "It's definitely frustrating. I guess you have to sometimes expect the trapdoors."
At the time, Nelson was recovering from his own ailments – a surgically repaired knee. Nevertheless, Nelson said his injuries weren't going to prevent him from fighting.
"I don't think I'll ever be 100 percent until I get a robotic knee or something, but I was ready for Jan. 1," Nelson said. "That's when I was planning to fight. I was working hard and doing the whole thing. It was a big letdown when Shane pulled out."
The UFC has yet to officially announce the Nelson-Mir fight at UFC 130, and Carwin is still without an opponent for a rumored UFC 131 contest. Nelson said he's just fine with whatever the UFC ultimately decides.
"I'll fight them both," Nelson said. "We can do a steel-cage match. Me, Shane, Frank and Brock (Lesnar) can do a ladder match. We could do tag team, but I'm not sure who I'd want as my partner. I guess if we're doing professional wrestling, I'd probably have to take Brock just because he's done it before. He's more of an entertainer and more professional that way."
It's typical banter from the always-entertaining veteran, but his bravado doesn't stop with professional wrestling claims. The former IFL champion is intent on wearing UFC gold, and he's willing to face the heavyweight division's best.
"I'll fight Shane Carwin, Frank Mir, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Brock Lesnar, Junior Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez – any of those guys I'm cool with," Nelson said. "You can even throw in a Sean McCorkle or whatever.
"For me, it really doesn't matter. My goal is always to be champion. From champion, then it's to fight the best in the world, but if I've got to fight the best in the world to become champion, then that works, too."
As for future rumors, Nelson said fans should feel free to go straight to the source for clarification.
"If fans want to know about me, they should go to my Twitter account or Roy Nelson.com," Nelson said. "They can always ask me a question, and I'll tell them the truth."
No comments:
Post a Comment