Long time UFC heavyweight Roy Nelson appeared recently on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour and discussed new division champion Stipe Miocic. Nelson lost a unanimous decision to Miocic at UFC 166 in 2014, in a fight he took on short notice.
“All I know is that Stipe gave me inspiration because if Stipe can be that UFC champion, and they actually gave him a title shot, then I’m like, ‘Ah, I do have a chance,’” said Nelson, as transcribed by Danny Segura for MMA Fighting.
“He did the point fighting with me too. He ran. You can actually see him, you know, like the people who are track stars. But I would love to fight Stipe again, especially now, because he’s the champ, and with a full camp. I would love a full camp.”
However, next on Nelson’s agenda is fighting Derrick Lewis at UFC Fight Night 90: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez on July 7, 2016?.
“The one thing about Derrick is that he reminds me of a bigger version of Fedor, like when he gets that ground-and-pound going he’ll just beat you up,” said Nelson. “And then, the one thing is that he’s calm, cool and collected when you take him down, and you know, he just muscles back up and puts the wrath on. The one thing I like is that he comes to fight. That’s what makes him fan friendly.”
“Stipe has the belt, then Stipe. I just think the UFC owes it to me to give me a full camp to beat him up. But I’m not worried about that right now. All I care about is Derrick.”
