Roy Nelson

"Big Country"

23-19-0★ 6bonuses

United StatesLast 5

Grappling 0-1

Last fight: Loss vs Valentin Moldavsky · Unanimous Decision · Aug 21, 2020

23-19-0 · 18 finishes · Full stats →

LAST FIGHT

LOSSvs Valentin MoldavskyUD · R3 5:00

BellatorBellator 244: Chandler vs Henderson 2·June 6, 2020

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Roy Nelson holds a professional MMA record of 23-19-0. Nelson has 43 professional MMA bouts on record. Nelson has won 23 fights: 14 by KO/TKO, 4 by submission, 5 by decision. Of 20 career losses, 3 came by KO/TKO and 0 by submission. In the UFC, Nelson lands 2.17 significant strikes per minute with 37% accuracy and averages 1.18 takedowns per 15 minutes. Nelson also has 1 recorded Grappling bout. Nelson also has 2 recorded knuckle-mma bouts. Most recent fight: June 6, 2020. Tracked organizations: BELLATOR, UFC.

Profile

Height: 6'0"183 cm
Weight: 263 lbs119 kg
Reach: 73"185 cm
Stance: Orthodox
DOB: Jun 20, 1976
Age: 50
Nationality: United States
Birthplace: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Career history

LOSS
vs Valentin Moldavsky
Bellator 244· Aug 21, 2020· Heavyweight· 23-19 vs 10-1
UD
LOSS
vs Valentin Moldavsky
Bellator 244: Chandler vs Henderson 2· Jun 6, 2020· 23-19
UD
R3 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Frank Mir
Bellator 231: Mir vs Nelson 2· Oct 25, 2019· Heavyweight· 23-18 vs 19-13
UD
R3 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Mirko Filipovic
Bellator 215: Mitrione vs Kharitonov· Feb 15, 2019· Heavyweight· 23-17 vs 38-11-2
UD
R3 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Sergei Kharitonov
Bellator 207: Mitrione vs Bader· Oct 12, 2018· Heavyweight· 23-16 vs 29-7
KO
R1 · 4:59
LOSS
vs Matt Mitrione
Bellator 194: Nelson vs Mitrione· Feb 16, 2018· Heavyweight· 23-15 vs 13-5
MD
R3 · 5:00
WIN
vs Javy Ayala
Bellator 183: Henderson vs Freire· Sep 23, 2017· Heavyweight· 23-14 vs 10-6
UD
R3 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Alexander Volkov
UFC Fight Night: Johnson vs Reis· Apr 15, 2017· Heavyweight· 22-14 vs 28-6
UD
R3 · 5:00
WIN
vs Antonio Silva
UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs Lansberg· Sep 24, 2016· Heavyweight· 22-13 vs 19-10
TKO
R2 · 4:10
LOSS
vs Derrick Lewis
UFC Fight Night: Team Joanna vs Team Claudia· Jul 8, 2016· Heavyweight· 21-13 vs 16-4
SD
R3 · 5:00
WIN
vs Jared Rosholt
UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs Thompson· Feb 6, 2016· Heavyweight· 21-12 vs 14-3
UD
R3 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Josh Barnett
UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs Nelson· Sep 28, 2015· Heavyweight· 20-12 vs 34-7
UD
R5 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Alistair Overeem
UFC 185: Pettis vs Dos Anjos· Mar 14, 2015· Heavyweight· 20-11 vs 39-14
UD
R3 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Mark Hunt
UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs Nelson· Sep 20, 2014· Heavyweight· 20-10 vs 10-8-1
TKO
R2 · 3:00
WIN
vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs Nelson· Apr 11, 2014· Heavyweight· 20-9 vs 34-9-1
TKO
R1 · 3:37
POTN
LOSS
vs Daniel Cormier
UFC 166: Velasquez vs Dos Santos III· Oct 19, 2013· Heavyweight· 19-9 vs 13-0
UD
R3 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Stipe Miocic
UFC 161: Evans vs Henderson· Jun 15, 2013· Heavyweight· 19-8 vs 10-1
UD
R3 · 5:00
WIN
vs Cheick Kongo
UFC 159: Jones vs Sonnen· Apr 27, 2013· Heavyweight· 19-7 vs 18-8-2
TKO
R1 · 2:03
KOTN
WIN
vs Matt Mitrione
UFC · The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs Team Nelson Finale· Dec 15, 2012· Heavyweight· 18-7 vs 5-2
TKO
R1 · 2:58
WIN
vs Dave Herman
UFC 146: Dos Santos vs Mir· May 26, 2012· Heavyweight· 17-7 vs 21-4
TKO
R1 · 0:51
KOTN
LOSS
vs Fabricio Werdum
UFC 143: Diaz vs Condit· Feb 4, 2012· Heavyweight· 16-7 vs 15-5-1
UD
R3 · 5:00
FOTN
WIN
vs Mirko Filipovic
UFC 137: Penn vs Diaz· Oct 29, 2011· Heavyweight· 16-6 vs 27-10-2
TKO
R3 · 1:30
LOSS
vs Frank Mir
UFC 130: Rampage vs Hamill· May 29, 2011· Heavyweight· 15-6 vs 15-5
UD
R3 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Junior Dos Santos
UFC 117: Silva vs Sonnen· Aug 7, 2010· Heavyweight· 15-5 vs 12-1
UD
R3 · 5:00
WIN
vs Stefan Struve
UFC Fight Night: Florian vs Gomi· Mar 31, 2010· Heavyweight· 15-4 vs 19-4
TKO
R1 · 0:39
KOTN
WIN
vs Brendan Schaub×1Title bout · Title win #1
UFC · The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale· Dec 5, 2009· Ultimate Fighter 10 Heavyweight· 14-4 vs 4-1
TKO
R1 · 3:45
KOTN
LOSS
vs Jeff Monson
Florida Regional· Mar 21, 2009· 13-4 vs 29-8
DEC
LOSS
vs Andrei Arlovski
EliteXC: Heat· Oct 4, 2008· Heavyweight· 13-3 vs 15-5
TKO
R2 · 3:14
WIN
vs Brad Imes×2Title bout · Title win #2
IFL 22: Connecticut· May 16, 2008· Heavyweight· 13-2 vs 12-5
TKO
R1 · 2:55
WIN
vs Fabiano Scherner×1Title bout · Title win #1
IFL 20: Las Vegas· Feb 29, 2008· Heavyweight· 12-2 vs 7-5
TKO
R1 · 3:20
WIN
vs Antoine Jaoude
IFL 19: World Grand Prix Finals· Dec 29, 2007· Heavyweight· 11-2 vs 8-3
TKO
R2 · 0:22
WIN
vs Bryan Vetell
IFL 18: World Grand Prix Semifinals· Nov 3, 2007· Heavyweight· 10-2 vs 3-3
TKO
R3 · 1:01
WIN
vs Shane Ott
IFL 15: Las Vegas· Jun 16, 2007· Heavyweight· 9-2 vs 3-1
UD
LOSS
vs Ben Rothwell
IFL 11: Moline· Apr 7, 2007· 8-2 vs 24-5
SD
WIN
vs Mario Rinaldi
Bodog Fight· Feb 17, 2007· 8-1 vs 5-1
TKO
WIN
vs Vince Lucero
IFL 7: Oakland· Jan 19, 2007· 7-1 vs 18-11
TKO
R1 · 1:55
LOSS
vs Josh Curran
Bodog Fight· Dec 16, 2006· Heavyweight· 6-1 vs 2-0
UD
WIN
vs Jerome Smith
FightForce: Butte Brawl 2· Jul 22, 2006· Heavyweight· 6-0 vs 6-9-1
SUB
R1 · 4:13
WIN
vs Jason Godsey
FightForce: Butte Brawl 1· May 6, 2006· Heavyweight· 5-0 vs 16-16
SUB
R1 · 4:42
WIN
vs Michael Buchkovich
World Extreme Fighting· Apr 1, 2006· 4-0 vs 7-2-1
SUB
WIN
vs Ray Seraille
Pacific X-treme Combat· Aug 28, 2004· 3-0 vs 3-7
SUB
WIN
vs Jerry Vrbanovic
California Regional· Apr 17, 2004· 1-0 vs 3-5-1
DEC
WIN
vs Bo Cantrell
California Regional· Apr 17, 2004· 1-0 vs 3-4
DEC

Title bout· ×N = title win number N in that promotion

Background

Credentials, amateur pedigree and camp

BaseBJJKung FuNo-Gi Grappling

2009Contract winner · TUF · Heavyweight
2009Black belt · BJJ · Renzo Gracie
2007IFL Heavyweight Championship · International Fight League (IFL)
2007Champion · IFL Grand Prix · Heavyweight
2005Champion · IBJJF Pans · Brown belt, +100kg
2004Champion · Rage on the River · Heavyweight
2003Bronze · IBJJF Pans · Brown belt, +100kg
2003Quarterfinalist · ADCC · +99kg
2003Champion · Grapplers Quest · Superfight / 8-man absolute
2000Started in BJJ
2000Started in BJJ
Black Sash · Kung Fu
Cimarron-Memorial High School · Wrestling / football / baseball
AGE 15Started in Kung Fu
AGE 15Started in Kung Fu

Camp

Country Club · Las Vegas, United States
Xtreme Couture · Las Vegas, United States Former

Coaches

Renzo Gracie · Grappling coach
John Lewis · Grappling coach
Jeff Mayweather · Boxing coach

Fight DNA

Knockout Artist

UFCalendar's style model · Heavyweight roster (255 fighters)

One-Shot Power

99 · top 1% in division

Iron Chin

98 · top 1% in division

Punch power99

Kick power70

Punch speed88

Kick speed56

Accuracy78

Takedowns93

Ground striking95

Submissions59

Chin98

Body strength87

Cardio56

Attributes are rated 0-100 by UFCalendar's style model.

By the numbers

Pro MMARecord: 23-19-0 · Source: UFCalendar

Striking

Strikes landed2.17per min

37% accuracy

Strikes absorbed4.86per min

46% avoided

Grappling

Takedowns landed1.18per 15 min

30% success

Takedowns stuffed65%

Submission attempts0.1per 15 min

UFC careerRecord: 9-10-0 · Source: UFCStats.com

Striking

Strikes landed2.17per min

37% accuracy

Strikes absorbed4.86per min

46% avoided

Grappling

Takedowns landed1.18per 15 min

30% success

Takedowns stuffed65%

Submission attempts0.1per 15 min

See every fight's numbers

Where they rank

All-time boards where Roy Nelson sits in the top 25.

All MMA

UFC

Bonus résumé

Roy Nelson has won 6 UFC post-fight bonuses. Estimated bonus earnings: $200,000.

★ Fight of the Night ×1★ Performance of the Night ×1★ KO of the Night ×4

Estimates use each era's real amount: $50,000 from 2012, $100,000 from UFC 324, plus $25,000 finish incentives. 2 pre-2012 awards are not priced · amounts varied per event.

All-time bonus leaders →

Recent & upcoming opponents

Salary & career earnings

Disclosed purses, reported paydays and what we estimate Roy Nelson earns per fight.

Roy Nelson's salary & career earnings →

Official UFC Ranking

Roy Nelson's standing in the official UFC rankings, tracked since 2013.

Current: Unranked
Peak: #5 Heavyweight
First ranked: Feb 4, 2013
Times ranked: 141

Heavyweight

View full UFC rankings →

UFCalendar Power Index rating

Current: 1731▼9
Peak: 1818Apr 27, 2013
Rated fights: 43

See the full Power Index →

Frequently asked questions

When does Roy Nelson fight next?

Roy Nelson has no confirmed upcoming fight.

What is Roy Nelson's record?

Roy Nelson's professional MMA record is 23-19-0.

Who is Roy Nelson fighting next?

Roy Nelson's next opponent has not been announced.

Who did Roy Nelson fight last?

Roy Nelson most recently fought Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 244: Chandler vs Henderson 2 on Saturday, June 6, 2020, LOSS (Unanimous Decision).

What weight class does Roy Nelson fight in?

Roy Nelson fights at Heavyweight.

How many knockouts does Roy Nelson have?

Roy Nelson has 14 wins by KO/TKO and 4 wins by submission.

How many UFC bonuses has Roy Nelson won?

Roy Nelson has won 6 UFC post-fight bonuses: 1× Fight of the Night, 1× Performance of the Night, 4× KO of the Night.

How tall is Roy Nelson?

Roy Nelson is 6'0" (183 cm) tall.

How much does Roy Nelson weigh?

Roy Nelson weighs 263 lbs (119 kg).

What is Roy Nelson's reach?

Roy Nelson has a reach of 73" (185 cm).

How old is Roy Nelson?

Roy Nelson is 50 years old (born Jun 20, 1976).

Where is Roy Nelson from?

Roy Nelson is from the United States.

Get Roy Nelson's fight history and stats as JSON with the MMA Fight Data API →

CAREER SUMMARY