Fighter

Roy Nelson

"Big Country"

23-19-0★ 6bonuses United States

United StatesLast 5

pro-knuckle-mma 1-1Grappling 0-1

NEXT FIGHT

No upcoming fight scheduled.

Roy Nelson holds a professional MMA record of 23-19-0. Their full professional MMA career spans 46 bouts on record. Roy Nelson has won 26 fights: 16 by KO/TKO, 4 by submission, 6 by decision. Of 20 career losses, 3 came by KO/TKO and 0 by submission. In the UFC, Roy Nelson lands 2.18 significant strikes per minute with 36% accuracy and averages 1.14 takedowns per 15 minutes. Roy Nelson also has 1 recorded Grappling bout. Roy Nelson also has 2 recorded knuckle-mma bouts. Most recent fight: April 16, 2017. Tracked organizations: UFC.

Profile

Height: 6'0"183 cm
Weight: 263 lbs119 kg
Reach: 73"185 cm
Stance: Orthodox
DOB: 1976-06-20
Age: 50
Nationality: United States
Birthplace: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Fight DNA

Knockout Artist

UFCalendar's style model · Heavyweight roster (149 fighters)

One-Shot Power

99 · top 1% in division

Iron Chin

98 · best in division

Punch power99

Kick power67

Punch speed80

Kick speed52

Accuracy70

Takedowns93

Ground striking94

Submissions67

Chin98

Body strength78

Cardio54

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

By the numbers

UFC careerRecord: 22-14-0 · Source: UFCStats.com

Striking

Strikes landed2.18per min

36% accuracy

Strikes absorbed4.79per min

46% avoided

Grappling

Takedowns landed1.14per 15 min

27% success

Takedowns stuffed65%

Submission attempts0.1per 15 min

Bonus résumé

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

★ FOTN ×1★ POTN ×1★ KOTN ×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 →

Salary & career earnings

Disclosed purses, reported paydays and our model's estimate of what Roy Nelson earns per fight.

See the money →

Career history

LOSS
vs Valentin Moldavsky
Bellator 244· Aug 21, 2020· Heavyweight· 23-18 vs 9-1
UD
LOSS
vs Frank Mir
Bellator 231· Oct 25, 2019· Heavyweight· 23-17 vs 18-13
UD
LOSS
vs Mirko Filipovic
Bellator 216· Feb 16, 2019· Heavyweight· 23-16 vs 37-11-2
UD
LOSS
vs Sergei Kharitonov
Bellator 207· Oct 12, 2018· Heavyweight· 23-15 vs 28-7
TKO
R1 · 4:59
LOSS
vs Matt Mitrione
Bellator 194· Feb 16, 2018· Heavyweight· 23-14 vs 12-5
MD
WIN
vs Javy Ayala
Bellator 183· Sep 23, 2017· Heavyweight· 22-14 vs 10-5
UD
LOSS
vs Alexander Volkov
UFCUFC Fight Night: Johnson vs Reis· Apr 16, 2017· Heavyweight· 22-13 vs 27-6
UD
R3 · 5:00
WIN
vs Antonio Silva
UFCUFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs Lansberg· Sep 25, 2016· Heavyweight· 21-13 vs 19-9
TKO
R2 · 4:10
LOSS
vs Derrick Lewis
UFCUFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs Alvarez· Jul 7, 2016· Heavyweight· 21-12 vs 15-4
SD
R3 · 5:00
WIN
vs Jared Rosholt
UFCUFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs Thompson· Feb 7, 2016· Heavyweight· 20-12 vs 14-2
UD
R3 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Josh Barnett
UFCUFC Fight Night: Barnett vs Nelson· Sep 28, 2015· Heavyweight
UD
R5 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Josh Barnett
UFC Fight Night 75· Sep 26, 2015· Heavyweight· 20-11 vs 33-7
UD
LOSS
vs Alistair Overeem
UFCUFC 185: Pettis vs Dos Anjos· Mar 14, 2015· Heavyweight· 20-10 vs 38-14
UD
R3 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Mark Hunt
UFCUFC Fight Night: Hunt vs Nelson· Sep 19, 2014· Heavyweight· 20-9 vs 9-8-1
TKO
R2 · 3:00
WIN
vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
UFCUFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs Nelson· Apr 11, 2014· Heavyweight· 19-9 vs 34-8-1
TKO
R1 · 3:37
POTN
LOSS
vs Daniel Cormier
UFCUFC 166: Velasquez vs Dos Santos III· Oct 19, 2013· Heavyweight· 19-8 vs 12-0
UD
R3 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Stipe Miocic
UFCUFC 161: Evans vs Henderson· Jun 15, 2013· Heavyweight· 19-7 vs 9-1
UD
R3 · 5:00
WIN
vs Cheick Kongo
UFCUFC 159: Jones vs Sonnen· Apr 27, 2013· Heavyweight· 18-7 vs 18-7-2
TKO
R1 · 2:03
KOTN
WIN
vs Matt Mitrione
UFCThe Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale· Dec 15, 2012· Heavyweight· 17-7 vs 5-1
TKO
R1 · 2:58
WIN
vs Dave Herman
UFCUFC 146: Dos Santos vs Mir· May 26, 2012· Heavyweight· 16-7 vs 21-3
TKO
R1 · 0:51
KOTN
LOSS
vs Fabricio Werdum
UFCUFC 143: Diaz vs Condit· Feb 4, 2012· Heavyweight· 16-6 vs 14-5-1
UD
R3 · 5:00
FOTN
WIN
vs Mirko Filipovic
UFCUFC 137: Penn vs Diaz· Oct 29, 2011· Heavyweight· 15-6 vs 27-9-2
TKO
R3 · 1:30
LOSS
vs Frank Mir
UFCUFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill· May 29, 2011· Heavyweight· 15-5 vs 14-5
UD
R3 · 5:00
LOSS
vs Junior Dos Santos
UFCUFC 117: Silva vs Sonnen· Aug 7, 2010· Heavyweight· 15-4 vs 11-1
UD
R3 · 5:00
WIN
vs Stefan Struve
UFCUFC Fight Night: Florian vs Gomi· Mar 31, 2010· Heavyweight· 14-4 vs 19-3
TKO
R1 · 0:39
KOTN
WIN
vs Brendan Schaub×3Title bout · Title win #3
UFCThe Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale· Dec 5, 2009· Ultimate Fighter 10 Heavyweight· 13-4 vs 4-0
TKO
R1 · 3:45
KOTN
WIN
vs James McSweeney
The Ultimate Fighter Season 10· Jul 8, 2009· Heavyweight· 15-4
TKO
R1 · 4:13
WIN
vs Justin Wren
The Ultimate Fighter Season 10· Jun 29, 2009· Heavyweight· 14-4
MD
WIN
vs Kimbo Slice
The Ultimate Fighter Season 10· Jun 10, 2009· Heavyweight· 13-4
TKO
R2 · 2:01
LOSS
vs Jeff Monson
Florida Regional· Mar 21, 2009· 13-3 vs 28-8
DEC
LOSS
vs Andrei Arlovski
EliteXC: Heat· Oct 4, 2008· Heavyweight· 13-2 vs 14-5
TKO
R2 · 3:14
WIN
vs Brad Imes×2Title bout · Title win #2
IFL 22: Connecticut· May 16, 2008· Heavyweight· 12-2 vs 12-4
TKO
R1 · 2:55
WIN
vs Fabiano Scherner×1Title bout · Title win #1
IFL 20: Las Vegas· Feb 29, 2008· Heavyweight· 11-2 vs 7-4
TKO
R1 · 3:20
WIN
vs Antoine Jaoude
IFL 19: World Grand Prix Finals· Dec 29, 2007· Heavyweight· 10-2 vs 8-2
TKO
R2 · 0:22
WIN
vs Bryan Vetell
IFL 18: World Grand Prix Semifinals· Nov 3, 2007· Heavyweight· 9-2 vs 3-2
TKO
R3 · 1:01
WIN
vs Shane Ott
IFL 15: Las Vegas· Jun 16, 2007· Heavyweight· 8-2 vs 3-0
UD
LOSS
vs Ben Rothwell
IFL 11: Moline· Apr 7, 2007· 8-1 vs 23-5
SD
WIN
vs Mario Rinaldi
Bodog Fight· Feb 17, 2007· 7-1 vs 5-0
TKO
WIN
vs Vince Lucero
IFL 7: Oakland· Jan 19, 2007· 6-1 vs 18-10
TKO
R1 · 1:55
LOSS
vs Josh Curran
Bodog Fight· Dec 16, 2006· Heavyweight· 6-0 vs 1-0
UD
WIN
vs Jerome Smith
FightForce: Butte Brawl 2· Jul 22, 2006· Heavyweight· 5-0 vs 6-8-1
SUB
R1 · 4:13
WIN
vs Jason Godsey
FightForce: Butte Brawl 1· May 6, 2006· Heavyweight· 4-0 vs 16-15
SUB
R1 · 4:42
WIN
vs Michael Buchkovich
World Extreme Fighting· Apr 1, 2006· 3-0 vs 7-1-1
SUB
WIN
vs Ray Seraille
Pacific X-treme Combat· Aug 28, 2004· 2-0 vs 3-6
SUB
WIN
vs Jerry Vrbanovic
California Regional· Apr 17, 2004· 0-0 vs 3-4-1
DEC
WIN
vs Bo Cantrell
California Regional· Apr 17, 2004· 0-0 vs 3-3
DEC

Career history data via Tapology.

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: 1744▼10
Peak: 1832Apr 27, 2013
Rated fights: 45

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 Alexander Volkov at UFC Fight Night: Johnson vs Reis on Sunday, April 16, 2017, 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 16 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 United States.

CAREER SUMMARY