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Roy Nelson Signs with Bellator MMA

1K views 11 replies 6 participants last post by  kantowrestler 
#1 ·
Roy “Big Country” Nelson has signed a deal with Bellator MMA. MMAFighting first reported the news and Nelson later confirmed it via Twitter.

@Tank2526 not going anywhere just wanted to work with @scottcoker
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) May 26, 2017
The 40-year-old Nelson’s UFC contract expired following his unanimous decision loss to Alexander Volkov on April 15. His Bellator contract is reportedly a multi-fight deal.

Nelson won the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2009. During the season he defeated Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson in the most watched fight in the history of the reality series. He fought 19 times in the Octagon with wins over Stefan Struve, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Matt Mitrione, Cheick Kongo, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Nelson amassed a 9-10 record in the UFC, but was a fan favorite. He has lost seven of his last ten fights and hopes to rejuvenate his career in Bellator.
http://www.mmaweekly.com/roy-nelson-signs-with-bellator-mma
 
#2 ·
This isn't surprising considering the fact that he always butt heads with Dana White and put through The Ultimate Fighter when he should've been signed right away. It's also fitting considering the fact that Roy Nelson spent most of his career outside of the UFC. Nelson is also needed considering the fact that depth in Bellator's heavyweight division is needed.
 
#4 ·
Yeah Bellator is either the place where aged UFC fighters go for a final payday or where genuine contenders who are Dana dissidents so they can fight with their own sponsors and get a higher payday. Either way it's become a legitimate alternative. Dana either doesn't care about this particular signing considering his issues with Big Country or steamed.
 
#8 ·
Well as was mentioned earlier Scott Coker has the capital to secure talent from the UFC and Roy Nelson is the latest. Granted the last part of his UFC record wasn't that good but he bolsters the quality of the talent on the Bellator roster and gives any young up and comers experience again UFC quality fighters. Overall it's a positive signing.
 
#9 ·
I think this is one of those cases where the record doesn't really speak to the opponant. While Roy was 3-7 those losses where against

HW Champ - Stipe Miocic
1) - Fabricio Werdum
3) - Alistair Overeem
4) - Junior Dos Santos
6) - Derrick Lewis
7) - Mark Hunt
10) - Alexander Volkov
LHW Champ - Daniel Cormier

And Josh Barnett who is on USADA suspension
 
#10 ·
So he's lost to almost every top fighter he's faced in the last 4 years. He's a middle of the road fighter at HW at best right now. I'm sure the UFC wasn't too interested in keeping him, so probably didn't offer him that much to stay. That's the good thing about the sport, though, you can work your trade in multiple organizations.
 
#12 ·
At this point Scott Coker is looking to sign anyone from the UFC who is high profile and he wants to bring big names over to bolster the Bellator name. In addition he's looking to build new stars in Bellator so maybe some guys who were middle of the line can break out. That is what happened with Phil Davis after all who was middle of the line and now champion in Bellator.
 
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