Nelson Gets ‘Skyscraper’ at UFN 21

“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 winner Roy Nelson will collide with Stefan Struve in a featured heavyweight tilt at UFC Fight Night 21 on March 31 at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C. Seven bouts are now official for the UFC’s return to the Queen City.

Nelson, the 33-year-old former International Fight League champion, knocked out the previously unbeaten Brendan Schaub at “The Ultimate Fighter 10” Finale two months ago in Las Vegas. Finished only once -- by former UFC heavyweight titleholder Andrei Arlovski -- in 18 professional bouts, he has won six of his last eight fights. Nelson, a Las Vegas native known as much for his portly physique as his considerable skills, holds a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Renzo Gracie.

One of the sport’s tallest competitors at 6-foot-11, Struve will carry a three-fight winning streak into the match. The Dutchman, who turns 22 next week, has delivered 14 of his 19 career victories by submission. Only one of Struve’s 22 professional bouts -- his majority decision win over Paul Buentello at UFC 107 in December -- has gone to the judges.

The UFC Fight Night 21 spotlight will also shine down upon the middleweights, as former title contender Nate Quarry meets the heavy-handed Jorge Rivera.

Quarry, 37, has posted back-to-back wins since his submission loss to the world-ranked Demian Maia at UFC 91. He outpointed “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 7 semi-finalist Tim Credeur by unanimous decision five months ago in a memorable slugfest at UFC Fight Night 19. Victories against Drew McFedries, Jason MacDonald and Shonie Carter highlight his resume.

The 37-year-old Rivera will also ride a two-fight winning streak into the match, but the Massachusetts native has not competed since he stopped Rob Kimmons on third-round strikes at UFC 104 in October. His UFC career revived by his appearance on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 4, Rivera counts wins over David Loiseau, Travis Lutter and Kendall Grove among his 17 career victories.

Meanwhile, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 9 lightweight winner Ross Pearson will toe the line against the surging Dennis Siver.

Anchored a the same Team Rough House camp that produced welterweight contenders Dan Hardy and Paul Daley, Pearson has delivered nine wins in his last 10 fights. The 25-year-old last appeared at UFC 105, when he stopped the durable Aaron Riley on a second-round cut in November. A tae kwon do black belt and judo brown belt, Pearson has secured eight of his 10 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

Siver, exiled from the UFC following a 2008 loss to Melvin Guillard, has returned to the Octagon with renewed vigor. The 31-year-old German will carry a four-fight winning streak into his showdown with Pearson. He stopped Paul Kelly in the second round at UFC 105 and has finished 13 of his 15 wins.

Other bouts on tap for UFC Fight Night 21 include a lightweight tilt pairing American Top Team’s Cole Miller with “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 9 runner-up Andre Winner and the world-ranked Yushin Okami with Finland-based Brazilian Lucio Linhares. In addition, Japanese veteran Caol Uno, seeking his first victory inside the UFC in more than seven years, will collide with Miller’s ATT teammate, Gleison Tibau.

A pivotal lightweight matchup between Kenny Florian and former Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Takanori Gomi will headline UFC Fight Night 21.