Roy Nelson has called upon Frank Mir to help him prepare for his bout against Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 137.
Mir, who holds victories over both Nelson and Cro Cop, is good friends with the former IFL heavyweight champion. Nelson has trained with Mir occasionally in the past, however this is the first time Mir has offered his services to The Ultimate Fighter season 10 winner.
In fact, Nelson said their training regimen happened by coincidence.
“This one actually just fell in place. He was a southie, (like) Cro Cop, and me being a good jiu-jitsu guy, like Nogueira, so it was just a perfect fit,” Nelson told NBCSports.com.
Nelson is entering his bout after two consecutive losses to Junior dos Santos and Mir. A potential third loss could send the 265-pound heavyweight down the ladder in the division and prevent him from entering title contention. Also, Nelson has not performed to expectations, often entering bouts looking out of shape and flat-footed.
Earning a victory over Cro Cop next weekend isn’t only expected, but it is crucial for “Big Country.” But despite the pressure, Nelson seems unfazed.
“Everybody always talks about my weight, but that’s throughout my whole entire life. It’s nothing new,” he said. “I hope I just perform better. Looks are in the eye of the beholder.”
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