No. 12-ranked UFC heavyweight contender Jared Rosholt heard the voices — the voices of thousands of mixed martial arts (MMA) fans criticizing his performance over Dutch kickboxer Stefan Struve at UFC 193 last November.
It wasn’t the most thrilling contest, but for “Big Show,” a win is a win.
“At the end of the day, you gotta win. If you got out there and try to put on an exciting fight and lose, then you’re going backwards. I’m trying to go forward and get to be the best,” Rosholt told MMA Fighting.
That doesn’t mean he’s not trying to improve.
The standout wrestler from Oklahoma State University is a winner of three straight Octagon tilts and is scheduled to face potent veteran Roy Nelson in the UFC Fight Night 82 co-main event later tonight (Sat., Feb. 6, 2016) inside MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Though Rosholt has competed against the likes of “The Skyscraper” and Soa Palelei, “Big Country” represents a different kind of test.
“He’s one of those tests where if you get past him, you belong fighting the top-tier guys. I think a win will have to be enough,” Rosholt said, adding. “How many times has he been finished in his career? Twice and once by the heaviest hitter in the UFC probably, Mark Hunt. It’ll be tough to finish Roy. He’s tough everywhere.”
Nelson’s chin is quite incomparable. The 39-year-old can take punishment like no other combatant can in UFC and his wars with former heavyweight champions Josh Barnett and Junior dos Santos are well-documented.
But previously heralded skills can sometimes erode, and it would appear the Nelson may be on the decline when taking a look at his last three performances, which were all losses.
There’s no question as to whether Nelson is still capable of putting on an entertaining tussle, the only one that remains is can he win? “Sin City” likes him to upend Rosholt’s win streak.
We’ll find out in a few more hours.
For more UFC Fight Night 82 news and notes, including up-to-the-minute live results and play-by-play, click here and here.