Gunnar Nelson To Make UFC Return Against Cláudio Silva
Gunnar Nelson (17-5-1) is ready to end his long layoff and return to the cage this year.
He has been booked against Brazilian-British fighter, Cláudio Silva (14-3). They will have their dance at UFC London on March 19 at the 02 Arena. Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov will highlight the main event.
Nelson has lost three of his last four fights in the promotion, including two back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards and Gilbert Burns, respectively.
In his last fight that dates back to September 2019, the 33-year-old welterweight lost via unanimous decision to Burns. The UFC hasn’t yet made any official announcement, but the news has been confirmed by reporter Alfredo Zullino.
The MMA ace recently signed a new multi-fight deal with the promotion.
Per sources, Iceland’s finest Gunnar Nelson returns to action after inking a new multi-fight deal with the UFC, as he clashes against Brazilian welterweight Claudio Silva at #UFCLondon, on March 19
Match not official yet, but that’s the promotion’s plan, I’m told. pic.twitter.com/RTq6GUgKLu
— Friendly Neighborhood Spaghetti-Man (@phre) January 24, 2022
Nelson landed his UFC contract in 2012, making his debut against DaMarques Johnson and winning the fight via submission.
He won the fight in the first round with a rear-naked choke. He went on to gather major wins over then-juggernauts of the division including Alex Oliveira, Zak Cummings, Omari Akhmedov, and Alan Jouban.
The upcoming fight against the 39-year-old UFC colleague should be an easy fight for Nelson despite being inactive recently.