After Shane Carwin hurt his knee, and will apparently be out for enough time to cause him to pull him out of his TUF coaches fight with Roy Nelson, “Big Country” was left without an opponent. Enter Matt Mitrione, who has taken the fight with Nelson per the UFC.
Kubryk’s Commentary: This is a step down in name for Nelson, of course, as Mitrione isn’t a former interim champion like Carwin. But on a month’s notice, and with most of the better options for someone of Nelson’s caliber already committed, this is the best possible option without wrecking a fight of note. Mitrione was scheduled to take on Phillip de Fries later in the year and with a win he’d get someone like Nelson. So in a way he’s skipping a step. For a last minute fight this isn’t the worst thing in the world; it’s surprising they didn’t bring in Tim Sylvia, if only because it’d be a big enough name for someone Nelson, but Mitrione is the best of a bad situation.
