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UFC 159 kicks off this weekend, which features an important heavyweight bout between Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo. Both have exceptional striking skills, making this an entertaining stand up battle if the fight stays on the feet.
Coming into this bout, Nelson sports an overall record of 19-7. He has fought some of the very best in the division, such as Frank Mir, Junior Dos Santos, and Fabricio Werdum. His last performance was an impressive win over Matt Mitrione.
Nelson was able to land a viscous punch, sending Mitrione out and to the canvas. It’s power like this that makes Nelson a formidable opponent. Couple this with his competent jiu jitsu skills and you have yourself a viable heavyweight contender.
Cheick Kongo has found mixed results in the UFC’s heavyweight division. He’s always shown promise in terms of his stand up skills and ground and pound, but wrestling and jiu jitsu have always been his weakest points. Going up against Nelson, he will need to ensure that he keeps the fight standing because this is his best path to victory.
Coming into this bout, he is 28-7-2 in his fighting career. His latest win was over Shawn Jordan, which wasn’t too exciting. He will need to be on his A game, as Nelson can end the fight both standing and on the ground.
This fight has the potential to end violently, and the winner moves right back up the heavyweight division, where Cain Velasquez is currently at the top. Expect a sense of urgency from both fighters who will be looking to make a statement this Saturday night on pay per view.
