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UFC 194: Gunnar Nelson can 'definitely' submit Demian Maia, win welterweight title

"I have loads of ideas of things that might happen in my fights, and I train them and I train situations that I believe are likely to happen in a fight in general. But when I get in there, I just, I look and I react. And I would definitely see [a submission] happening. I'll definitely go in there and I will try to finish the fight. That's one thing I know that I will always try doing, and that's one thing I know I believe I will. So I believe that I will finish this fight. I'll be looking at the title very soon though, I think. I definitely won't look past Demian Maia or anyone that I'm facing. It is about the journey. If you start moving too fast, you won't see the things that are around you, and eventually you build up yourself with holes. I don't want to do that. I want to enjoy this journey, and I want to notice everything. I want to build up a solid, solid game. But I'm definitely looking at the belt, and I believe I will carry it next year."

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight contender Gunnar Nelson (via Submission Radio) has no problem going to the ground with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) master Demian Maia, who challenges "Gunni" for a spot in the crowded 170-pound title hunt at the upcoming UFC 194 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Dec. 12, 2015 inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Probably because Nelson has done his fair share of mat work, as well, holding his own against the best of the best in several trips to the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) submission grappling tournament. While Nelson is just one fight removed from his split-decision loss to Rick Story back in 2014, defeating No. 6-ranked Maia will undoubtedly vault him into the top 10 and get him one or two wins away from a crack at the crown. Holding it, however, may be an entirely different story, but we'll reserve that chatter for the Sunday after UFC 194 (full line up here). That said, any fight fans out there predicting Icelandic gold in 2016?

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