UFC 166's Daniel Cormier has solution for Roy Nelson's wild mane

MILWAUKEE – Roy Nelson‘s flowing locks and shaggy beard have become a signature look for the hard-hitting heavyweight, but Daniel Cormier isn’t the biggest fan of the style. In fact, when the pair meets in the co-main event of October’s UFC 166 event, Cormier might be asking the commission to take a look at the locks.

“The thing about the beard is it doesn’t seem to be well-kept, so I’m going to request that there’s a rubber band in it and that it comes straight down,” Cormier said at Friday’s UFC Fight Club Q&A session in Milwaukee. “Also, I’m going to ask that they put his hair in two plaits off to the side. Part it down the middle, plait it on the sides. I don’t want it all in my face.”

Cormier (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Nelson (19-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC) face off in the co-feature of UFC 166, which takes place at Houston’s Toyota Center and airs on pay-per-view.

For Cormier, the fight is just the next step in his maturation as a fighter, which has seen him rise from top prospect to bona fide title contender in just four years in the sport.

After building his career in Strikeforce, Cormier made his UFC debut in April, earning a one-sided, albeit somewhat tedious, unanimous-decision win over former UFC champ Frank Mir. Meanwhile, Nelson will look to rebound from a June loss to Stipe Miocic in hopes of finding the form that saw him earn three straight first-round knockout wins over Cheick Kongo, Matt Mitrione and Dave Herman.

Whether or not Cormier files an official request with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which will oversee UFC 166, remains to be seen. The commission’s rules do state that “each contestant must be clean and present a tidy appearance,” but whether or not Nelson would be forced to tidy (or trim) his flowing locks wouldn’t be determined until Cormier filed an official request.

One thing is certain: Cormier will come in lighter for the fight than he has for any other fight in his heavyweight career. The 34-year-old has already started prepping for a move to 205 pounds, and his focus on an improved diet has already shown immediate results. “DC” said he’s been happy with his progress already, and he’s going to move to light heavyweight after his fight with Nelson, regardless of the result.

“I’m going to go down regardless,” Cormier said. “I’ve already kind of started. I’ve been lighter. I’m 228, 227 pounds now, and I feel good. I feel fast, and it’s something I want to do.

“I’ve got two young kids now, and I want to try and live a little healthier. I was kind of opposed to dieting for a long time, and now I’m doing those types of things.”

For more on UFC 166, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Daniel Cormier)