Werdum to Make Octagon Return Against ‘Big Country’ at UFC 143

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The UFC has reportedly booked an important heavyweight attraction for UFC 143, as former Strikeforce contender Fabricio Werdum will lock horns with Roy Nelson at the Feb. 4 event.

MMAWeekly.com first reported the news on Wednesday afternoon.

Headlined by an interim welterweight title bout between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, UFC 143 will emanate from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The event airs live on pay-per-view and is expected to feature an additional welterweight contest between Josh Koscheck and Mike Pierce.

Known as one of the heavyweight division’s most skilled grapplers, Werdum had a three-fight winning streak snapped by Alistair Overeem in the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix quarterfinals on June 18. Prior to that defeat, “Vai Cavalo” had earned victories over Mike Kyle, Antonio Silva and Fedor Emelianenko in the Strikeforce cage.

Werdum’s first run with the UFC came to an abrupt halt in October 2008 when the former Pride Fighting Championships star was knocked out by Junior dos Santos in just 81 seconds. The 34-year-old had posted a 2-1 Octagon record prior to that defeat, finishing Gabriel Gonzaga and Brandon Vera after dropping a decision to Andrei Arlovski in his UFC debut.

Nelson, 35, rebounded in October from a pair of defeats by knocking out Mirko Filipovic at UFC 137. “Big Country” had previously dropped back-to-back decisions to top contenders dos Santos and Frank Mir.

Nelson debuted with the UFC as a contestant on Season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” winning the season by knocking out Brendan Schaub. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt owns all of his Octagon victories by KO and has finished all but two of his 16 career victims by either knockout or submission.