It was clear from UFC President Dana White’s comments in Germany that he is no longer committed to a Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir rubber match. Unfortunately for White and his angry Twitter followers, a key absence in the heavyweight division might make that fight inevitable.
White confirmed at the UFC 122 press conference that “Ultimate Fighter” winner and rising heavyweight prospect Roy Nelson will be out of Octagon action until a contract issue with another promotion is resolved.
Sources add that the issue exists with Ring Square promotions, which claims to have Nelson under contract. White did not mention the promotion by name, but explained, “These guys go out and sign with these ‘rinky dink’ little promotion companies and sign these bad contracts, and let’s just say Roy Nelson is involved in a bad contract right now that he had before.”
The assumption was that if Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir were to go in different directions for their next fights, one (likely Lesnar) would battle Roy Nelson and one (presumably Mir) would fight Brendan Schaub. With Nelson out, there are limited “big money” fights available for Lesnar, and a third Lesnar-Mir fight makes a lot more sense.