Heavyweight · “Big Country”
Roy Nelson
23-20-0 UFC 9-10-0
6'0"Height
73"Reach
OrthodoxStance
50Age
8KO wins
0Sub wins
88.9%Finish rate
10:39Avg fight
Statistical profile
Radar — percentile vs UFC veterans
Career rates
Sig. strikes landed / min2.17
Sig. strikes absorbed / min4.86
Striking accuracy37.3%
Striking defense45.6%
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
Fight history
L Alexander Volkov 1-0 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
W Antonio Silva 3-6-1 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
L Derrick Lewis 6-2 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
W Jared Rosholt 6-1 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
L Josh Barnett 5-2 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
L Alistair Overeem 3-3 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
L Mark Hunt 4-2-1 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
W Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 5-4 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
L Daniel Cormier 1-0 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
L Stipe Miocic 3-1 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
W Cheick Kongo 11-5-1 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
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
W Dave Herman 1-1 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
L Fabricio Werdum 2-2 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
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
L Frank Mir 12-5 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
L Junior Dos Santos 5-0 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
W Stefan Struve 3-1 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
W Brendan Schaub 0-0 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
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
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
| Opponent | Method | Event | Org | Rd | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.