The co-main event of this saturday's UFC 143 features a heavyweight showdown between Jiu-Jitsu ace Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) and Ultimate Fighter season 10 champ Roy "Big Country" Nelson (16-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC). 

Werdum's last octagon appearance saw him viciously KO'd by future champ Junior dos Santos, a contract dispute soon after led to a fast UFC exit. He later signed with then-rival Strikeforce, where he went 3-1, including his first three wins under their banner over Mike Kyle, Antonio Silva, and the upset of 2010 when he submitted Fedor Emelianenko. His last fight was a rather unexciting unanimous decision loss to current number one contender Alistair Overeem. Werdum sports some of the best Jiu-Jitsu in the heavyweight division, he would not hesitate to pull guard in a fight if he were to get in trouble on the feet. Werdum looks to get himself into title contention in his return to the UFC with a victory. 

Roy Nelson is also no stranger to being a gate keeper to future champions and title contenders. He took a one-sided pounding from Junior dos Santos in August of 2010, but displayed a tremendous chin and heart by taking some of the best shots from arguably the biggest knockout artist the UFC has ever seen. In his last fight at UFC 137, we saw a more slimmed down Nelson from his usual unathletic looking frame, in an impressive third round TKO over the aging but legendary Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. "Big Country" is known for his all-around game, he can deliver powerful shots standing, yet at the same time is a more than formidable foe should the fight get to the ground as well. Nelson looks to be possibly a fight or two away from a re-match with dos Santos with a win in this fight. 

Fight Odds

Fabricio Werdum: -145
Roy "Big Country" Nelson: +115

I believe there is great value in a play on Nelson here. Watching pre-fight interviews this week, he looks to be even more svelte, but not to the point where he would be suffering from a size disadvantage in this on fight night. I see Nelson hitting Werdum with big shots early and often, with this fight making it to the ground. Nelson has never been submitted in his MMA career, and I do not see it happening in this fight. I predict an exciting unanimous decision victory for Roy "Big Country" Nelson. 

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Devon Miller can be reached at dvnmiller26@yahoo.com