According to a Feb. 17 report from MMA Junkie, undefeated Icelandic prospect Gunnar Nelson (11-0-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) may very well be the next big thing at 170 pounds, but he's not getting a title shot any time soon.
UFC President Dana White explained that he's in no rush to push the 24-year-old into title contention.
"It's one of those things," White said at the UFC on FUEL TV 7 post-event press conference in London. "You don't rush the kid. He's a young kid. He just had his first three-rounder in the UFC, second fight here. He's got plenty of time. He's got nothing but time."
"You know what's interesting about him is when you watch him fight, he's so unorthodox," White said. "His hands are down by his waist, yet he's fast and explosive. He hits you from these crazy angles.
"I like that he went three rounds tonight. He's a young guy, just got into the UFC. It's good to let him get that experience, and he's got to get some more killer instinct, too."
Nelson went the distance with Jorge Santiago at UFC on Fuel TV 7, earning a convincing victory.
"I'd been training a lot of standup for this fight, and I believe this was a necessary thing for my career," Nelson said after slugging it out with Santiago. "The fight went to the ground a couple times, but I'm confident on the feet and I need the experience on the feet, so I'm very happy with this fight."
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