Roy Nelson vs Brendan Schaub Fight Prediction – TUF 10
ROY NELSON vs. BRENDAN SCHAUB
Fight Overview: The finals are set, and Roy Nelson and Brendan Schaub are the last two men standing. Now, they will match wills and skills inside the Octagon, with the much-touted six figure contract on the line. Both men are hungry and well-rounded, but one is far more athletic while the other is far more experienced.
Schaub’s Strengths: Schaub, especially for so young a fighter, has a lot of strengths. One is his physical size and power, which are both formidable. He is also very well-rounded, and has shown on the show that he has good, powerful standup, a potent submission attack, and an ability to survive from bottom position on the ground.
Schaub’s Weaknesses: While he hasn’t shown any glaring weaknesses thusfar, Schaub’s lack of experience may well prove troubling against a veteran as seasoned as Roy Nelson. Also, against Madsen, Schaub’s takedown defense showed some notable holes, which could definitely create problems against Nelson, who is a good wrestler and does his best work on the ground.
Nelson’s Strengths: Nelson, a long-time veteran, has developed a potent skill set over the course of his career. A decent standup fighter with good wrestling, Nelson’s completeness is one of his best attributes. His size can also be viewed as a strength, because if he gets on top of an opponent on the ground his vast weight and paunch can help wear them down.
Nelson’s Weaknesses: Of course, being Nelson’s size can have drawbacks too, especially in the cardio department if a fight keeps going. Also, while his standup is decent, he probably doesn’t have what it takes to stand with the taller, more explosive Schaub for the entire fight, especially considering Schaub’s reach advantage.
Prediction: As promising as Schaub is, right now he is just not ready for a fighter as experienced and complete as Nelson. Schaub has enough power that he could knock Nelson out, but his takedown defense looked shaky against Madsen, and Nelson has a much more proven track record of taking opponents down and controlling them. I see Schaub getting some licks in, but Nelson should control the bulk of the action with his smothering top control and ground and pound, earning him the decision
