‘Big Country’ to Meet ‘Bigfoot’ Down in Brazil

Ultimate Fighting Championship officials announced on Thursday that longtime fan favorite heavyweight Roy Nelson will return to the Octagon yet again but he’ll have to travel halfway across the globe in order to do battle.

Nelson will lock horns with Antonio Silva in a featured bout on the UFC Fight Night “Cyborg vs. Lansberg” card down in Brasilia, Brazil on Sep. 24. “Big Country” is in desperate need of a win, though, as the jolly fat man is suffering through the worst skid of his career. He’s just 2-6 in his last eight and is coming off a split decision loss to rival Derrick Lewis in July.

Sitting in a similar boat in “Bigfoot,” who has gone just 1-5-1 in his seven. The Brazilian has dropped his last two -- to Mark Hunt and Stefan Struve -- both via knockout. It’s safe to say that it’s a pivotal matchup and each man’s career in the UFC could be hanging in the balance.

The matchup bolsters the UFC Fight Night 95 card, which will be headlined by a women’s 140-pound battle between Cristiane Justino and Lina Lansberg. The event will take place inside the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium and will be televised live on both UFC Fight Pass and Fox Sports 1.

Also slated for the card, former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao will collide with Phillipe Nover in a featherweight bout. A flyweight bout between Jussier Formiga and Dustin Ortiz has been added to the lineup as well, as is a lightweight clash between Paul Felder and Francisco Trinaldo. Welterweights Erick Silva and Brandon Thatch will square off and Michinori Tanaka will take on Rani Yahya in a bantamweight encounter.

Renato Moicano will oppose Mike de la Torre at 145 pounds and welterweight skirmish featuring Alan Patrick Silva Alves and Steven Ray is also scheduled for the event.