Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson targeted for UFC 130

Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir will not be on a stint as coach once again on the next season of “The Ultimate Fighter” after all.

Instead, the Jiu-Jitsu specialist will now be facing Roy Nelson at an unannounced event, UFC 130 which is rumored to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Mir’s territory.

Nelson, the season ten winner of the TUF series was recently embroiled in a contract dispute when Square Ring Promotion’s, which is owned by boxing legend Roy Jones Jr., suggested that Roy was still under contract with their organization, however now everything seems to be free and clear since Nelson is now scheduled to compete in the octagon once again.

“Big Country” was last in action when he was pitted against Junior dos Santos last August at UFC 117. Though he showed a lot of heart throughout the 15-minute affair, surviving some massive shots throughout, it wasn’t enough and in the end the Brazilian walked away the winner and in turn earned the number one contender position for the UFC heavyweight title.

Nelson was scheduled to return at UFC 125 earlier this month, however Nelson’s contract obligations with Jones Jr.’s organization, which to date has only held one event where Roy lost a decision to former UFC title challenger Jeff Monson, came into question.

Now that the issues are no longer paramount, Nelson can now prepare to meet former champ Frank Mir in May for UFC 130. Mir will look to build upon a September victory over Mirko “Cro Cop” when he meets the former IFL champion. Frank was lethargic, to say the least, in the opening moments of the heavyweight tilt with the former PRIDE champion, which headlined UFC 119 several months ago. However, in the third-round the ever improving striker was able to connect on a big knee which halted the bout and earned Mir the knockout win.

Since capturing the interim heavyweight title in December of 2008 with a victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 92, Mir has alternated wins and losses inside the octagon, losing the chance to unify titles when he was defeated by Brock Lesnar, then submitting Cheick Kongo, then getting knocked out by Shane Carwin, followed up by the victory over Mirko (respectively).

Should either Mir or Nelson come out the victor, the winner could see a big push towards the title in 2011, if the fight ends in impressive fashion.

So, MMA peeps, who do you think takes this match? Will Mir make another run to the title or will Nelson match gut with brawn against Frank? Sound off in the comment section below.