‘We’re always trying for a knock-out’ Nelson says before UFC clash

UFC fighters Roy Nelson and Antonio Rodrigo may have contrasting styles but they do share an old-school approach to finishing off an opponent inside the octagon, writes Osman Samiuddin.

Antonio Nogueira, left, and Roy Nelson give local UFC fans a sneak peak while they train Tuesday on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. The two UFC fighters will meet inside the octagon Friday on Yas Island. Ravindranath K / The NationalShow less

ABU DHABI // On paper, the headline clash at the UFC Fight Night at Yas Island on Friday lines up as a beautiful contrast in styles.

In one corner there is Roy “Big Country” Nelson, a force who has won nearly two-thirds of his fights by knockout. In the other is Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira, a leaner, taller fighter who has relied, in a long distinguished career, on making his opponents submit.

Nogueira prefers getting down on the mat, Nelson prefers staying on his feet.

But that is on paper, as the reality suggests the contrasts are far subtler, which is what Nelson pointed out yesterday in the capital. In the broader picture, both are old-school fighters who are interested in one thing.

“The thing about Big Nog is that he’s a bit like me,” Nelson said, referring to his Brazilian opponent. “Us old-school fighters, we actually try to finish the fight. We’re always trying for a knock-out. We’re not fighting to see who wins for 15 minutes. We’re not doing that. If this is a fight, who is going to win, that is our approach.

“Big Nog is going to try to finish me in the first as much as he tries to finish me in the fifth. A lot of these new guys are, like, let’s see what I can do for 15, 25 minutes and then try to outpoint people.”

Nelson’s big, heavy right hand has picked up a reputation over the years for knocking out people in the first round. It is a reputation he admits he plays up to for the fans, even though it hides his ju-jitsu pedigree; he is a black belt and it was the platform for his jump into Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and the UFC.

“I try not to knock people out, it just happens. It’s one of those things that works in my favour. I just go out there and give fans what they want,” he said.

But that approach has worked against him, as well. In his past six fights, for example, he has not won any fight that has gone past the first round. It is that relative lack of conditioning Nogueira will try to take advantage of.

“He’s very aggressive, he’s got really heavy hands,” Nogueira said.

“He’s got a very good and solid game. But I think I can move more, I am lighter than him. I can use my endurance training, as well. I’m an endurance fighter and I can go further in my fights. I hope I can make my strategy right for this. I know he gets out of gas a little bit after the second round.”

Nogueira may have conditioning issues of his own. He has not fought for 10 months after a submission loss in his latest fight to Fabricio Werdum raised fears of another broken arm. There was no fracture but he has not fought since.

“I wasn’t training for six months but I’ve been training now for this fight for the last four,” he said.

“I’m in really good shape. I prefer to be fighting, of course, but it doesn’t matter that much. I’ve been out more than a year before and it doesn’t make a difference. I train every day, I train inside the octagon with good sparring fighters, so I’m almost the same.”

Friday’s first fight has local fans in a frenzy

UAE fight fans do not really need a regional angle to the first UFC Fight Night in the country for four years – the love for combat sports goes beyond that.

But it does not harm the night’s prospects any that one of the more intriguing bouts on the card is between a fighter of Iranian origin and one of Palestinian background.

Beneil Dariush and Ramsey Nijem, in the lightweight division, are the first bout on the main card on Friday night. The newcomer Dariush was born in Iran and Nijem, the more experienced, is of Palestinian heritage. Both are based in California.

Daruish is the more exciting prospect. Nijem is a well-rounded opponent but has lost a little spark after his UFC debut and has lost two of his past three fights.

On his UFC debut in January this year, Dariush secured a first-round submission win over veteran Charlie Brenneman and got himself a four-fight deal.

He is also yet to lose a mixed martial arts fight, having switched over after a thriving ju-jitsu career; he was a silver medallist at the world championships, the Mundials.

“I feel very confident ahead of the fight,” Dariush said. “I feel like I’m going to win for sure. It’s another step forward for my career.

“For me to get to the UFC was such a big deal. I worked so hard for it. To get here is something so big. But to stay in UFC is even harder than to get there. I have to work even harder to stay.”

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