UFC Fight Night 82 live blog: Roy Nelson vs. Jared Rosholt

LAS VEGAS – This is the UFC Fight Night 82 live blog for Roy Nelson vs. Jared Rosholt, a  heavyweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

Nelson, who has lost four of his past five fights, will face Rosholt, who has four wins in his past five fights, in the co-main event.

Check out the UFC Fight Night 82 live blog below.

Round 1: We're rolling along here. Herb Dean is the referee for your co-main. Who makes who dance their dance? Roy Nelson got a big pop from the crowd on intro. The circle, with Rosholt on the outskirts. Nelson bobbing and looking to size up a power punch, but mindful of the takedown. Rosholt with a left jab, half-hearted. Now as Nelson ducks down, Rosholt throws some high heat but Big Country able to steer out of the way. Nelson moves in with a combo, and Rosholt wheels around the cage, staring him down. They exchange there, and Roy might have clipped Rosholt a bit. Slight redness on Rosholt's nose. Roy charges in a gain, but finds air with his punches. Both being a bit cautious. Rosholt with a left hand that lands. Midway through the round, and action is still slow. Roy chases Rosholt across, but again Rosholt moves out. Now when Roy charges, Rosholt turns and fires on his chin along the fence, three vicious shots and a couple hit Nelson. He's okay. Rosholt didn't tie him up there. Nelson lurks back, and lands a left hand. Now Rosholt swings a left-right combo, lands on the latter. Two nice left hands connect for Rosholt, who isn't so tentative that he's not landing. Nice trad there, with Nelson rocking a sturdy right. Now a left on the fence. Nelson pursuing, but can't get Rosholt into a danger zone. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Rosholt, 10-9.

Round 2: Rosholt was dropping his left hand in the end parts of that round. See if Roy can cap on it. Brief skirmish in the middle, but Nelson wasn't budging. Still it's Big Country moving forward, and Rosholt wheeling. Nelson puts his shoulder down and charges forward again, but Rosholt really having none of it. Rosholt fires off an inside leg kick, and then Nelson answers with a blasting leg kick of his own — that wobbled Rosholt. That lead leg got stung. Left hand from Nelson, and that connects — good looking hook. Nelson throws wild and slips after going errant with the right. Rosholt wanted to pounce, but Nelson was quick back up. Nelson still the one stalking in. He misses on a left there, as Rosholt runs along the length of the links to the dissatisfaction of the faithful here in Vegas. Leg kick from Nelson lands. Nelson slams short left home, and now comes up top with an overhand. That connected, and it was loud. Still, Rosholt unfazed. Inside of a minute. Nelson comes forward again, dragging that right knuckle low to deploy, but Rosholt able to pick it up and move off. Nelson trying to land the big shot; can't get Rosholt to bit on anything. They have a big exchange at the end, with Nelson getting the better of it. That woke the crowd up a bit. MMA Fighting scores R2 for Nelson, 10-9 (19-19 overall)

Round 3: No touching of the gloves. Nelson this time rocks back a bit as a chant comes alive with his name. He slams a leg kick home, that sends Rosholt backwards trying to keep his balance. Huge left from Nelson fans, and he almost landed on himself with the whiplash. Both guys sweating profusely; Rosholt bleeding about the ear. They wave jabs there, and neither can size anything up. Nelson bursts forward trying to get his offense, and — as we've seen — Rosholt rolls away. Now Nelson lands a nice punch, and he follows up with a right hand. That got through; Rosholt felt it. Nelson lands a left on a partial counter. Now Rosholt puts his shoulder down, and in a semi-clinch sneaks an uppercut in on Big Country. Nice dual-jab there from Rosholt. Series of rights from Nelson, and clearly land as sweat beads explode off Rosholt's head. Both men are ragged and breathing heavy. Still, Nelson game. He's coming in. He looks at the clock, which says one minute. Could go either way at this point. Another exchange inside, and Rosholt might have landed better. Crowd lets up a thunderous boo. Big right uppercut glances Nelson after a feint on the takedown. They trade at the end. Close, close fight. Could go either way. MMA Fighting scores R3 for Nelson, 10-9 (29-28 overall for Nelson)

UFC Fight Night 82 official results: Roy Nelson def. Jared Rosholt via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)