24
88%
Finish Rate
16
KO / TKO
5
Submissions
2004
Pro Debut
Biography
Roy Nelson is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division. As a professional, he has competed for the UFC, EliteXC, the IFL, BodogFIGHT, and most recently for Bellator MMA. In the UFC, Nelson was the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights and achieved success as a top 10 UFC Heavyweight. Nelson is also the former IFL Heavyweight Champion, competing under Ken Shamrock and the Lion's Den. He holds notable victories over Mirko Cro Cop, Cheick Kongo, and Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira.
UFC Stats
Official · ufc.comStriking accuracy37%
Takedown accuracy27%
2.18
/ min
Sig. strikes landed
4.79
/ min
Sig. strikes absorbed
1.14
/ 15 min
Takedowns
0.13
avg
Submissions
0.61
avg
Knockdowns
Reach 183 cmUFC debut Dec. 5, 2009Born Las Vegas, United StatesTeam Country Club
How He Wins
KO / TKO16
Decision1
Submission5
Finish Rate
88%
21 of 24
wins by finish
wins by finish
Recent Form
W
L
W
L
L
L
L
L
W
L
Mixed Martial Arts44 Bouts
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rd | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss |  Alan BelcherH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 6 | Nov 10, 2023 |
| Win | Dillon ClecklerH2H | TKO (punch) | R1 | Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 4 | May 5, 2023 |
| Loss |  Valentin MoldavskyH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | Bellator 244 | Aug 21, 2020 |
| Loss | Frank MirH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | Bellator 231 | Oct 25, 2019 |
| Loss | Mirko Cro CopH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | Bellator 216 | Feb 16, 2019 |
| Loss | Sergei KharitonovH2H | KO (punches and knee) | R1 | Bellator 207 | Oct 12, 2018 |
| Loss | Matt MitrioneH2H | Decision (majority) | R3 | Bellator 194 | Feb 16, 2018 |
| Win | Javy AyalaH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | Bellator 183 | Sep 24, 2017 |
| Loss | Alexander VolkovH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Reis | Apr 15, 2017 |
| Win |  Antônio SilvaH2H | KO (punches) | R2 | UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs. Länsberg | Sep 24, 2016 |
| Loss | Derrick LewisH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez | Jul 7, 2016 |
| Win | Jared RosholtH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson | Feb 6, 2016 |
| Loss | Josh BarnettH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R5 | UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson | Sep 27, 2015 |
| Loss |  Alistair OvereemH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 185 | Mar 14, 2015 |
| Loss |  Mark HuntH2H | KO (punch) | R2 | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson | Sep 20, 2014 |
| Win | Antônio Rodrigo NogueiraH2H | KO (punch) | R1 | UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson | Apr 11, 2014 |
| Loss | Daniel CormierH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 166 | Oct 19, 2013 |
| Loss | Stipe MiocicH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 161 | Jun 15, 2013 |
| Win |  Cheick KongoH2H | KO (punches) | R1 | UFC 159 | Apr 27, 2013 |
| Win | Matt MitrioneH2H | TKO (punches) | R1 | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale | Dec 15, 2012 |
| Win | Dave HermanH2H | KO (punch) | R1 | UFC 146 | May 26, 2012 |
| Loss | Fabrício WerdumH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 143 | Feb 4, 2012 |
| Win | Mirko Cro CopH2H | TKO (punches) | R3 | UFC 137 | Oct 29, 2011 |
| Loss | Frank MirH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 130 | May 28, 2011 |
| Loss | Junior dos SantosH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 117 | Aug 7, 2010 |
| Win | Stefan StruveH2H | TKO (punches) | R1 | UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi | Mar 31, 2010 |
| Win | Brendan SchaubH2H | KO (punch) | R1 | The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale | Dec 5, 2009 |
| Loss | Jeff MonsonH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | SRP: March Badness | Mar 21, 2009 |
| Loss |  Andrei ArlovskiH2H | KO (punch) | R2 | EliteXC: Heat | Oct 4, 2008 |
| Win | Brad ImesH2H | KO (punch) | R1 | IFL: Connecticut | May 16, 2008 |
| Win | Fabiano SchernerH2H | TKO (punches) | R1 | IFL: Las Vegas | Feb 29, 2008 |
| Win | Antoine JaoudeH2H | KO (punch) | R2 | IFL: World Grand Prix Finals | Dec 29, 2007 |
| Win | Bryan VetellH2H | TKO (punches) | R3 | IFL: World Grand Prix Semifinals | Nov 3, 2007 |
| Win | Shane OttH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | IFL: Las Vegas | Jun 16, 2007 |
| Loss | Ben RothwellH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | IFL: Moline | Apr 7, 2007 |
| Win | Mario RinaldiH2H | TKO (punches) | R1 | BodogFIGHT: Costa Rica Combat | Feb 17, 2007 |
| Win | Vince LuceroH2H | TKO (punches) | R1 | IFL: Oakland | Jan 19, 2007 |
| Loss | Josh CurranH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | BodogFIGHT: Clash of Nations | Dec 16, 2006 |
| Win | Jerome SmithH2H | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | R1 | FightForce: Butte Brawl 2 | Jul 22, 2006 |
| Win | Jason GodseyH2H | Submission (rear-naked choke) | R1 | FightForce: Butte Brawl 1 | May 6, 2006 |
| Win | Michael BuchkovichH2H | Submission (rear-naked choke) | R1 | World Extreme Fighting 17 | Apr 1, 2006 |
| Win | Ray SeraileH2H | TKO (submission to punches) | R2 | PXC 3: Return of the Enforcer | Aug 28, 2004 |
| Win | Jerry VrbanovicH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | Rage on the River | Apr 17, 2004 |
| Win | Bo CantrellH2H | Submission (hammerlock) | Rage on the River Heavyweight Tournament Semi-final. | 3 | — |
Related Fighters
Alan Belcher19-9-0 · HW
Dillon Cleckler11-2-0 · HW
Valentin Moldavsky15-4-0 · LHW
Frank Mir19-13-0 · HW
Mirko Filipovic38-11-2 · HW
Sergei Kharitonov35-8-0 · HW
Matt Mitrione13-9-0 · HW
Javy Ayala11-8-0 · HW
Alexander Volkov40-11-0 · HW
Antonio Silva19-15-1 · HW
Derrick Lewis29-13-0 · HW
Jared Rosholt20-8-0 · HWData sourced from public records for archival/research purposes.