Report: Roy Nelson vs. Stefan Struve for UFN 21

Fighters Only claims knowledge of an impending tussle between TUF 10 winner Roy "Big Country" Nelson and towering 6'11" Stefan Struve for UFN 21 on March 31st in North Carolina.

From the standpoint of physical appearance, it may be difficult to discern the two fighters in the octagon, as they could practically pass as twin brothers--with the minor exception that Roy is short, squatty, and sports a monster truck spare tire while Struve is as scrawny as a starving orphan and enters the octagon by just stepping over the edge of the cage instead of using the fence door.

My thoughts on this match-up have seesawed back and forth from Stefan Struve being a surprisingly difficult test to a tailor-made match-up.  As a spry youth of only 22, Struve has already amassed the same number of professional fights with a 19-3 track record.  He seems like the prototypical "unpolished diamond" who exudes the instincts, desire, and abilities to become a phenomenal fighter that would present a formidable challenge to any heavyweight opposing him. 

Struve unluckily drew the deadly Junior Dos Santos in his UFC debut, and wilted to a violent flurry of jackhammers in the 1st.  Showing poise and determination, Struve battled with the tough Denis Stojnic and became the first and only fighter to submit him, and then proceeded to submit Chase Gormley in Gormley's first professional MMA defeat.  Although far from flawless, "Skyscraper" was able to best veteran Paul Buentello on the feet for a win on the score cards at UFC 107, which is impressive considering Struve is a submission-based fighter by nature (75% winning percentage by sub).

Roy "Big Country" Nelson blazed through the inexperienced competition on The Ultimate Fighter Season 10, including the season's centerpiece Kimbo Slice.  Roy is a standout grappler and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu phenom with oodles of competitive experience.  Frank Mir is considered one of the most talented heavyweight ground specialists in both the UFC and all of MMA, and Big Country defeated him at Grappler's Quest in 2003.

At 14-4, Nelson's only flaws are to highly respectable competition like Jeff Monson, Andrei Arlovski (in a fight with a fishy stand-up where Nelson had side-control), a tight split-decision to Ben Rothwell, and Josh Curran in Bodog.  As we saw on TUF, there are few who can withstand Nelson's technical assault on the ground.  He's patient, smart, and skilled.  Despite the lack of experience of Nelson's opponents on the show, the threat that "Big Country" presents on the ground will be a handful for any heavyweight in the business.