Daniel Cormier Vs. Roy Nelson Set As UFC 166 Co-Main Event

Daniel Cormier and Roy Nelson will face off as the co-main event at UFC 166 in Houston this fall.

The two heavyweights have already been battling it out on Twitter the last few weeks, with Cormier telling Nelson to re-sign with the UFC so they can have it out in the Octagon. The UFC did not confirm Nelson’s decision to re-sign with the promotion, but sources confirmed with the Houston Chronicle that the Ultimate Fighter season 10 winner did in fact sign a multi-fight contract.

Nelson (19-8) told Bleacher Report on June 3 that Cormier (12-0) had declined a fight at UFC 161.

“There’s definitely guys that called me out and turned down fights,” he said. “I guess all the big wigs, who you can think of. I think D.C. (Daniel Cormier) was one of them, I think Travis Browne turned it down so he could fight (Alistair) Overeem.”

The next day on UFC Tonight, Cormier responded by saying, “I want Roy Nelson. I want to kick his a**. I want to kick his a** for Dana White.”

Things cooled down for a bit after Nelson lost to Stipe Miocic by unanimous decision at UFC 161, after which his contract expired. Cormier and Nelson started getting back into it on Twitter last week, which finally resulted in the two signed a handwritten agreement for a fight. The UFC then went ahead and booked the match for UFC 166, which will take place October 19 at the Toyota Center.

The card will be headlined by the third fight between heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and former champion Junior dos Santos. Also on the card is a welterweight bout between Hector Lombard and Nate Marquardt, and lightweight matches between Diego Sanchez and Gilbert Melendez and Tony Ferguson and Mike Rio.

What do you think of Roy Nelson vs. Daniel Cormier at UFC 166?

[Pictured: Daniel Cormier]