With an earlier report looking at pitting UFC heavyweights Shane Carwin (12-1) and Roy “Big Country” Nelson (15-5) against one another at the upcoming UFC 125 event on Jan. 1st in Las Vegas, Nelson has since come out to say that January is too soon for him.
Speaking to the LasVegasSun.com shortly after news of the fight surfaced, “Big Country” has come out confirming the offer to face Carwin on the New Year’s Day event. He was unable to commit to the fight because he hasn’t recovered from undergoing knee surgery last August.
“My knee is not 100 percent yet. I’m still in physical therapy. Right now, (January) probably seems a little too soon. If Brock Lesnar loses I’d like to fight him next. My knee would be healed up by then because he likes to take a little time off between fights.”
Although a bout with Carwin is probably off of the table, Nelson did say the UFC also offered a fight with former interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.