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Heavyweight · “Big Country”

Roy Nelson

23-20-0 UFC 9-10-0
One-Punch Power Finisher Hittable
6'0"Height
73"Reach
OrthodoxStance
50Age
8KO wins
0Sub wins
88.9%Finish rate
10:39Avg fight
Simulate Tapology ↗

Skill profile

Rated 0–100 against every UFC veteran · the rim is reserved for specialists, and only efficiency opens it
Striking — Weak, rated 20.2 of 100 Accuracy — Weak, rated 10.9 of 100 Striking D — Weak, rated 7.4 of 100 Durability — Average, rated 52.4 of 100 Wrestling — Average, rated 61.5 of 100 TD Defense — Average, rated 62.3 of 100 Grappling — Below avg, rated 24.7 of 100 Control — Average, rated 55.7 of 100 Striking Accuracy Striking D Durability Wrestling TD Defense Grappling Control
  1. TD Defense Average 62
  2. Wrestling Average 62
  3. Control Average 56
  4. Durability Average 52
  5. Grappling Below avg 25
  6. Striking Weak 20
  7. Accuracy Weak 11
  8. Striking D Weak 7
One-Punch Power 9 knockdowns · 0.67 per 15 min
Finisher 89% of wins by knockout or submission (8 KO, 0 sub)
Hittable absorbs 4.9 significant strikes per minute
Career rates — the raw numbers behind the chart
Sig. strikes landed / min2.17
Sig. strikes absorbed / min4.86
Striking accuracy37.3%
Striking defense45.6%
Knockdowns / 15 min0.67
Takedowns / 15 min1.18
Takedown accuracy29.6%
Takedown defense64.5%
Sub attempts / 15 min0.07
Control time20.3%
Record vs .500+ opponents5-8

Striking trend

Sig. strikes/min, last 8 fights · green = win
April 11, 2014 vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira — 5.25/min (W) — only 3.6 min of tape, so this rate reflects how fast the fight ended more than how he fought Apr '14 September 20, 2014 vs Mark Hunt — 2.5/min (L) Sep '14 March 14, 2015 vs Alistair Overeem — 1.53/min (L) Mar '15 September 26, 2015 vs Josh Barnett — 2.4/min (L) Sep '15 February 6, 2016 vs Jared Rosholt — 2.8/min (W) Feb '16 July 7, 2016 vs Derrick Lewis — 0.27/min (L) Jul '16 September 24, 2016 vs Antonio Silva — 3.93/min (W) Sep '16 April 15, 2017 vs Alexander Volkov — 2.13/min (L) Apr '17

Fight history

19 UFC bouts · newest first · opponent records as of fight night
L Alexander Volkov 27-6 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Reis · April 15, 2017
32/67Sig. strikes
122/182Absorbed
1/8Takedowns
4:32Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Alexander Volkov › Simulate vs Alexander Volkov ›
W Antonio Silva 19-9-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 4:10 — UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs. Lansberg · September 24, 2016
36/66Sig. strikes
27/61Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
1:32Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Antonio Silva › Simulate vs Antonio Silva ›
L Derrick Lewis 15-4 walk-in Decision - Split · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs. Alvarez · July 7, 2016
4/19Sig. strikes
37/73Absorbed
7/10Takedowns
9:39Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Derrick Lewis › Simulate vs Derrick Lewis ›
W Jared Rosholt 14-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs Thompson · February 6, 2016
42/121Sig. strikes
36/120Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Jared Rosholt › Simulate vs Jared Rosholt ›
L Josh Barnett 33-7 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R5 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs Nelson · September 26, 2015
60/114Sig. strikes
146/205Absorbed
4/10Takedowns
7:51Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Josh Barnett › Simulate vs Josh Barnett ›
L Alistair Overeem 37-14 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 185: Pettis vs Dos Anjos · March 14, 2015
23/77Sig. strikes
62/84Absorbed
0/4Takedowns
0:34Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Alistair Overeem › Simulate vs Alistair Overeem ›
L Mark Hunt 9-8-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 3:00 — UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs Nelson · September 20, 2014
20/60Sig. strikes
32/91Absorbed
1/6Takedowns
0:19Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Mark Hunt › Simulate vs Mark Hunt ›
W Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 28-8-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 3:37 — UFC Fight Night: Minotauro vs Nelson · April 11, 2014
19/35Sig. strikes
12/37Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:11Control
2Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira › Simulate vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira ›
L Daniel Cormier 12-0 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 166: Velasquez vs Dos Santos 3 · October 19, 2013
17/82Sig. strikes
74/148Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:01Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Daniel Cormier › Simulate vs Daniel Cormier ›
L Stipe Miocic 9-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 161: Evans vs Henderson · June 15, 2013
23/127Sig. strikes
106/172Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:21Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Stipe Miocic › Simulate vs Stipe Miocic ›
W Cheick Kongo 18-7-2 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 2:03 — UFC 159: Jones vs Sonnen · April 27, 2013
2/5Sig. strikes
4/6Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
1:11Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Cheick Kongo › Simulate vs Cheick Kongo ›
W Matt Mitrione 5-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 2:58 — The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale · December 15, 2012
23/53Sig. strikes
13/28Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:48Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Matt Mitrione › Simulate vs Matt Mitrione ›
W Dave Herman 21-3 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 0:51 — UFC 146: Dos Santos vs Mir · May 26, 2012
2/4Sig. strikes
3/8Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:02Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Dave Herman › Simulate vs Dave Herman ›
L Fabricio Werdum 14-5-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 143: Diaz vs Condit · February 4, 2012
26/69Sig. strikes
91/136Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
2:44Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Fabricio Werdum › Simulate vs Fabricio Werdum ›
W Mirko Filipovic 4-5 walk-in KO/TKO · R3 1:30 — UFC 137: Penn vs Diaz · October 29, 2011
32/75Sig. strikes
30/59Absorbed
2/2Takedowns
4:16Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Mirko Filipovic › Simulate vs Mirko Filipovic ›
L Frank Mir 14-5 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 130: Rampage vs Hamill · May 28, 2011
21/51Sig. strikes
46/65Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
4:01Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Frank Mir › Simulate vs Frank Mir ›
L Junior Dos Santos 10-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 117: Silva vs Sonnen · August 7, 2010
40/101Sig. strikes
130/282Absorbed
0/7Takedowns
1:31Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Junior Dos Santos › Simulate vs Junior Dos Santos ›
W Stefan Struve 18-3 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 0:39 — UFC Fight Night: Florian vs Gomi · March 31, 2010
9/15Sig. strikes
2/5Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:08Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Stefan Struve › Simulate vs Stefan Struve ›
W Brendan Schaub 4-0 walk-in TITLE KO/TKO · R1 3:45 — The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale · December 5, 2009
8/35Sig. strikes
12/48Absorbed
1/2Takedowns
1:23Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
Full event page › Deep dive vs Brendan Schaub › Simulate vs Brendan Schaub ›

Walk-in records count UFC bouts in this database. For the pre-UFC career, see the record breakdown below or the Tapology button up top.

Record breakdown

Full pro career (Wikipedia, results only)
23-20-0Pro record
Xtreme CoutureGym / team

Wins by method

KO/TKO 15
Submission 4
Decision 4
Other 0

Losses by method

KO/TKO 3
Submission 0
Decision 17
Other 0

Fights by organization

UFC 19
IFL 7
Bellator 6
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 2
BodogFIGHT 2
FightForce 2
SRP 1
EliteXC 1

+ 3 more organizations in the full career list

Full career — 43 fights, every organization
OpponentMethodEventOrg RdTime
L Alan Belcher Decision (split) Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 6
November 10, 2023
 Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 3 5:00
W Dillon Cleckler TKO (punch) Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 4
May 5, 2023
 Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 1 3:24
L Valentin Moldavsky Decision (unanimous) Bellator 244
August 21, 2020
 Bellator 3 5:00
L Frank Mir Decision (unanimous) Bellator 231
October 25, 2019
 Bellator 3 5:00
L Mirko Cro Cop Decision (unanimous) Bellator 216
February 16, 2019
 Bellator 3 5:00
L Sergei Kharitonov KO (punches and knee) Bellator 207
October 12, 2018
 Bellator 1 4:59
L Matt Mitrione Decision (majority) Bellator 194
February 16, 2018
 Bellator 3 5:00
W Javy Ayala Decision (unanimous) Bellator 183
September 24, 2017
 Bellator 3 5:00
L Alexander Volkov Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Reis
April 15, 2017
 UFC 3 5:00
W Antônio Silva KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs. Länsberg
September 24, 2016
 UFC 2 4:10
L Derrick Lewis Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez
July 7, 2016
 UFC 3 5:00
W Jared Rosholt Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson
February 6, 2016
 UFC 3 5:00
L Josh Barnett Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson
September 27, 2015
 UFC 5 5:00
L Alistair Overeem Decision (unanimous) UFC 185
March 14, 2015
 UFC 3 5:00
L Mark Hunt KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson
September 20, 2014
 UFC 2 3:00
W Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson
April 11, 2014
 UFC 1 3:37
L Daniel Cormier Decision (unanimous) UFC 166
October 19, 2013
 UFC 3 5:00
L Stipe Miocic Decision (unanimous) UFC 161
June 15, 2013
 UFC 3 5:00
W Cheick Kongo KO (punches) UFC 159
April 27, 2013
 UFC 1 2:03
W Matt Mitrione TKO (punches) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale
December 15, 2012
 UFC 1 2:58
W Dave Herman KO (punch) UFC 146
May 26, 2012
 UFC 1 0:51
L Fabrício Werdum Decision (unanimous) UFC 143
February 4, 2012
 UFC 3 5:00
W Mirko Cro Cop TKO (punches) UFC 137
October 29, 2011
 UFC 3 1:30
L Frank Mir Decision (unanimous) UFC 130
May 28, 2011
 UFC 3 5:00
L Junior dos Santos Decision (unanimous) UFC 117
August 7, 2010
 UFC 3 5:00
W Stefan Struve TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi
March 31, 2010
 UFC 1 0:39
W Brendan Schaub KO (punch) The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale
December 5, 2009
 UFC 1 3:45
L Jeff Monson Decision (unanimous) SRP: March Badness
March 21, 2009
 SRP 3 5:00
L Andrei Arlovski KO (punch) EliteXC: Heat
October 4, 2008
 EliteXC 2 3:14
W Brad Imes KO (punch) IFL: Connecticut
May 16, 2008
 IFL 1 3:55
W Fabiano Scherner TKO (punches) IFL: Las Vegas
February 29, 2008
 IFL 1 3:20
W Antoine Jaoude KO (punch) IFL: World Grand Prix Finals
December 29, 2007
 IFL 2 0:22
W Bryan Vetell TKO (punches) IFL: World Grand Prix Semifinals
November 3, 2007
 IFL 3 1:01
W Shane Ott Decision (unanimous) IFL: Las Vegas
June 16, 2007
 IFL 3 4:00
L Ben Rothwell Decision (split) IFL: Moline
April 7, 2007
 IFL 3 4:00
W Mario Rinaldi TKO (punches) BodogFIGHT: Costa Rica Combat
February 17, 2007
 BodogFIGHT 1 2:38
W Vince Lucero TKO (punches) IFL: Oakland
January 19, 2007
 IFL 1 1:55
L Josh Curran Decision (unanimous) BodogFIGHT: Clash of Nations
December 16, 2006
 BodogFIGHT 3 5:00
W Jerome Smith Submission (arm-triangle choke) FightForce: Butte Brawl 2
July 22, 2006
 FightForce 1 4:13
W Jason Godsey Submission (rear-naked choke) FightForce: Butte Brawl 1
May 6, 2006
 FightForce 1 4:42
W Michael Buchkovich Submission (rear-naked choke) World Extreme Fighting 17
April 1, 2006
 World Extreme Fighting 1 0:56
W Ray Seraile TKO (submission to punches) PXC 3: Return of the Enforcer
August 28, 2004
 PXC 2 3:41
W Jerry Vrbanovic Decision (split) Rage on the River
April 17, 2004
 Rage on the River 3 3:00

Career history from the fighter's Wikipedia record table (Roy Nelson) — results only, no strike stats; UFC bouts are marked and carry full stats in the fight history above.

Division context

vs. 100 qualified Heavyweight fighters · tick = division mean
Striking volume /min 2.2 avg 3.4
Strikes absorbed /min 4.9 avg 3.3
Striking accuracy 37.3% avg 49.5%
Striking defense 45.6% avg 52.1%
Takedowns /15 min 1.2 avg 1.2
Takedown accuracy 29.6% avg 37.6%
Takedown defense 64.5% avg 61.8%
Sub attempts /15 min 0.1 avg 0.4
Control time 20.3% avg 21.4%
Finish rate 88.9% avg 63.7%