Rising star Gunnar Nelson and late bloomer Mike Pyle will pair off as the latest addition to UFC 160, scheduled for May 25. The contest will be a welterweight affair and was first reported by MMA Junkie.
On the surface, the matchup seems to pit two fighters at opposite ends of their careers against one another. Nelson is a 24-year-old superstar in the making, Pyle a 37-year-old journeyman.
Under the surface, however, the fight will see two guys rocketing into contention, battle it out to see which of them makes a foray into the upper echelon at 170 pounds.
Nelson, the most notable fighter to ever have come out of Iceland, has been heralded as a top prospect since making his MMA debut as a teenager back in 2007. Since joining the UFC, he has posted a 2-0 record, most recently grasping a decision away from Jorge Santiago at UFC on Fuel TV 7.
From 1999 to Jan, 2010, Pyle was able to fight to moderate MMA success on the strength of his advanced submission game. But since the conclusion of that period, there has been nothing moderate about what he has done.
Over his last seven outings, Pyle has posted a 6-1 record, the sole loss coming by the hand of the uber-talented Rory MacDonald. Pyle’s three most recent bouts have all been wins, ending via knockout inside the first frame.
At 37, Pyle really seems to have hit his stride. The question is, will he have what it takes to halt the momentum of a fighter many consider a future title player?
It’s a classic old lion vs. young lion contest, nuanced by the similarities between the combatants’ recent trajectories.
It’s also a pretty solid addition to a pretty solid UFC 160 fight card.
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