UFC 159 has several good bouts, but Roy “Big Country” Nelson versus Cheick Kongo could be the best fight of them all on Saturday.
Nelson will enter as the favorite, even though his record of 18-7 is slightly better than Kongo’s 18-7-2. Fans will be pulling for Nelson because of his style.
Both big men will be ready to go in this clash of power. This doesn’t look like it will go the distance, but there will be plenty of punches thrown in the Octagon.
Nelson hasn’t been knocked out since 2008, and he can slug it out with anyone. The key for him will be to stay aggressive. He needs to be ready to give it his all right away and try to finish it before he wears down. If it goes too long, he could tire out and find himself knocked out.
The 36-year-old likes to use his right hand to win the fight. He has a good overhand, which could cause Kongo some problems.
On the other side, Kongo will be looking for the big blow. Whether it’s a punch or a kick, he has the ability to take anyone out, and he has to be able to keep it clean and use his power to his advantage.
Kongo has been inconsistent in recent matches. He is 4-3-1 in his last eight fights, and three of his past five bouts have gone the distance. He has gone 2-0-1 in those matches and would benefit again from going past five minutes, as his counterpart isn’t built to go the full length.
These two heavyweights are both capable of a knockout, but Kongo’s best chance is to draw the fight out. For that reason, expect Nelson to bring it early on. Kongo and Nelson will trade blows, but it likely won’t go the distance.
UFC 159 has quality matchups everywhere, but this figures to be a very intriguing bout.
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