Nelson, Mir To Co-Main Event UFC 130 In Las Vegas UFC Betting Odds

Sunday, 16 January 2011 21:08

Written by Glen Bloomberg

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Nelson, Mir To Co-Main Event UFC 130 In Las Vegas UFC Betting Odds - With contract talks resolved, it appears as though the Ultimate Fighting Championships will send Frank Mir and Roy "Big Country" Nelson to the octagon for a heavyweight matchup that will co-headline a rematch for the Lightweight championship between Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar at UFC 130. Both men are capable of standing and exchanging knockout blows, and that should make for an exciting event.

UFC: 130
Frank Mir (14-5-0) vs. Roy Nelson (15-5-0)
MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Saturday May 28, 2011 - 9:00 PM ET
Online Sports Betting Odds: Mir - 200

Nelson was slated to fight Shane Carwin at UFC 125: Resolution, but was pulled from the card entirely after Carwin suffered a back injury that required surgery. Big Country hasn't been in an octagon since losing out at his chance to become the No. 1 contender in the Heavyweight division with a unanimous decision loss to Junior Dos Santos at UFC 117. Now, Nelson will get the opportunity to prove he still deserves consideration against a former champion.

MMA Betting Preview: Frank Mir

Mir has been out of action since dropping Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 119 back in September, and looks to continue to work his way back to the top of the UFC Heavyweight ladder when he takes on Nelson. A black belt in both Kenpo Karate and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mir has been focused since jeopardizing his career in a motorcycle accident two years ago, but has had a tough time consistently performing at the highest sports betting level and has gone just 2-2 in his past four bouts. Still, with names such as Brock Lesnar, Cheick Kongo, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria on the list of fighters that the 31-year old has taken down, there is no reason to believe he can't raise his level again in the prime of his career.

UFC Betting Odds Preview: Roy Nelson

Big Country rebounded from losses to Andrei Arlovski and Jeff Monson to get his act together in time for the Ultimate Fighter, and after scoring his shot to compete in the UFC, has punched his way to the top of the pecking order. The 34-year old has notable wins over Brandan Schaub and Stefan Struve, but has yet to put his stamp on any of the big names in the UFC Heavyweight division. With eight of his 15 pay per head victories clinched via knockout, there is no doubt about where the strengths of the big man are, yet he has still registered five wins via submission.

The Match Up: Mir vs. Nelson

Nelson has established himself as a quality heavyweight that boasts knockout power, but has still yet to prove that he can throw down with the best in the division. Mir has been here before and always succeeded at getting to the top, and with a renewed focus and dedication should be primed to continue his climb back to the top.

UFC Picks: Mir - 200