UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Two of the most notable names in heavyweight MMA history, Frank Mir and Roy Nelson met for a second time inside the cage Friday night at Bellator 231.
Mir (18-13 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) and Nelson (23-17 MMA, 1-3 BMMA) needed all 15 minutes to determine a winner. The first meeting between Mir and Nelson occurred in May 2011 at UFC 130. That night, Mir won the fight by unanimous decision. Friday night, he did the same.
Former UFC champion Mir’s main target? The lead leg of Nelson. He peppered “Big Country’s” inside left leg over and over. By the third round, Nelson’s leg was pink becoming red.
Visibly frustrated, Nelson tried swinging for the fences. Few and far between landed, but when they did, Mir ate them. As the crowd booed and the clock approached zero, Nelson secured a massive takedown. But it was too little too late.
The heavyweight bout was the Bellator 231 main event at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Up-to-the-minute Bellator 231 results include:
- Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Phil Davis def. Karl Albrektsson via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 3:06
- Ed Ruth def. Jason Jackson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Ilara Joanne def. Bec Rawlings via submission (kneebar) – Round 2, 3:35
- Jake Hager vs. Anthony Garrett declared no contest (accidental low blow by Hager) – Round 1, 1:56
- Phumi Nkuta def. Adrian Haly via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
- Connor Dixon def. Orkhan Ismatzade via submission (kimura) – Round 1, 0:42
- Killys Mota def. Mandel Nallo via TKO (injury) – Round 3, 1:16
- Jessy Miele def. Talita Nogueira via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
- Steve Mowry def. Gokhan Saricam via submission (kimura) – Round 2, 0:56
- Dalton Rosta def. Claude Wilcox via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 2, 4:23
- Tim Caron def. Lucas Pimenta Borges via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jon Manley def. Thiago Oliveira via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Elise Reed def. Rebecca Bryggman via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:48
