Nelson on Overeem: 'I just hope his fight style hasn't changed being over at Jackson's'
When Roy Nelson faces Alistair Overeem at UFC 185 on Saturday, "Big Country" is hoping to face the head-hunting, liver-destroying "Reem" that terrorized DREAM, Strikeforce, and K-1.
"For me the biggest thing with Overeem, he's a K-1 champ, Strikeforce champ, DREAM champ, you name it, he's had every belt in there. I just hope that's the Alistair that comes out," Nelson told FOX Sports' Damon Martin. "I know he's getting better and better, but I just hope his fight style hasn't changed being over at Jackson's.
"I hope he comes to fight 'cause that's what fans want to see. They don't want to see point and run."
Overeem wouldn't be the first fighter accused of playing it safe once they moved over to Greg Jackson's Gym in Albuquerque, N.M. A legion of championship-level fighters, including Georges St-Pierre, were widely criticized for changing their style under Jackson's tutelage.
"I think the difference with Greg Jackson is it's smarter fighting, where it's safer. I don't want to say unpredictable but just safer so that you have a longer career," Nelson said.
"It's a good thing on the business side, a bad thing for the fans."