Mirko Cro Cop Defeats Roy Nelson Via Unanimous Decision, Superb Match!
Bellator 216 is taking place tonight (Saturday, February 16, 2019) from inside Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The co-main event of the evening brings a highly entertaining 265-pound match. Pride FC legend and the man with one of the most lethal left high kicks in the history of MMA, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, meets the former IFL Heavyweight champion Roy “Big Country” Nelson. The two already fought at UFC 137, on October 29, 2011, where Nelson picked a third-round TKO victory.
Our referee in charge for this epic rematch is Leon Roberts. The fight is underway!
Round 1
Fighters don’t touch gloves. Mirko is very patient, Nelson moves around, just like in their first fight, he stays away from Mirko’s left high kick. Nelson throws feinting left hands. Nelson misses with a right hand, fighters clinch up and separate again.
Mirko looks so powerful at the moment. Nelson misses again, goes into the clinch, but Cro Cop defends and pushes Nelson to the cage, great uppercut.
Nelson on the fence again. And now Nelson rotates well and pushes Cro Cop on the cage, good underhook from Roy Nelson.
Why isn’t Leon Roberts separating them, no activity?! Mirko slips away and now pushes Nelson to the cage. Leon Roberts warns fighters – no head contact!
Great left uppercut from Mirko Cro Cop. Amazing punches to the body, Cro Cop lands like a pro, Nelson delivers a knee to the mid-section.
Fighters are in the center of the Octagon again. Nelson clinches up again, but Mirko delivers a brutal elbow and pushes Roy on the cage. An uppercut to the face, what a move by Mirko Cro Cop, and followed by a great left oblique kick to the body.
Nelson goes for a single-leg takedown, but Mirko defends!
Nelson holds Mirko’s right leg but Cro Cop defends well. An uppercut off the clinch again, the end of the round. 10-9 Cro Cop.
Round 2
Nelson pressures again. Cro Cop evades takedown attempt, great move. Nelson misses with a right hook, Mirko ducks under.
Nelson again goes for a takedown, great reversal by Mirko Cro Cop, Nelson on the fence, a knee to the body Cro Cop, now two elbows in a row! Wow, again a left knee to the body.
An uppercut lands and Nelson looks rocked.
Nelson survives, both fighters in the center of the cage again. Low kick Nelson. Wow, a low kick from hell Mirko Cro Cop. And again! Left high kick attempt, I think it passed Nelson’s guard too, despite his right hand was high.
Left straight punch Cro Cop. Nelson goes for a takedown again, excellent defense from Mirko Cro Cop, who pushes Nelson on the cage.
Wow, this was a good right hand by Nelson. Nelson pushes forward, and a big right hand. Good knee from the clinch from Roy Nelson.
Hah, Nelson tries a funny right high kick, and pushes Cro Cop on the fence.
Mirko Cro Cop attempts a standing guillotine choke, but no success. Nelson lands another knee, Mirko counters with a tremendous uppercut.
Left low kick Mirko. Excellent straight left Mirko Cro Cop, Nelson misses again, Mirko delivers a left high kick but Roy blocks it. Nelson misses again. 10-9 Cro Cop, the end of the round.
Round 3
Fighters touch gloves. Nelson feints. Left hook missed by Roy Nelson, good low kick from Mirko Cro Cop. Left low kick Mirko Cro Cop again!
Nelson lands a solid right uppercut. Nelson checked a low kick, it looked dangerous. Amazing movement by Cro Cop, who circles around the cage, and lands another low kick.
Nelson shoots in, Cro Cop escapes.
Big right uppercut Nelson but missed by a hair. Mirko is pressed against the cage now but escapes well. Mirko lands a great left straight punch to Nelson’s nose.
Nelson shoots in again, Mirko defends and pushes Nelson towards the cage. Great defense. Mirko is on the fence again.
Nelson keeps going forward. Big left hook from Mirko Cro Cop!!! Nelson tries to shoot in, grabs Mirko’s left leg.
Nelson takes Cro Cop down!
Mirko defends well from his back, Nelson ended up in the full guard. Nelson does nothing, the referee should warn him. Nelson cannot even deliver a strike. An elbow landed by Roy Nelson. The end of the round, I’d say 10-9 Nelson.
Check out the highlights below:
💥😬Mirko Cro Cop is out here landing solid kicks in our co-main event!#BellatorWGP #Bellator216 pic.twitter.com/OUjC1Cx4iC
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) February 17, 2019
Heavyweights goin at it! #Bellator216 pic.twitter.com/lSYEbo38CC
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) February 17, 2019
Mirko Cro Cop vs gets the W tonight in his Bellator Debut.
Our main event is next on @DAZN_USA 📲 https://t.co/nYWevM68WM 🇺🇸
& 📺 @SkySports Main Event 🇬🇧 right now!#BellatorWGP #Bellator216 pic.twitter.com/EUNneYTS6b— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) February 17, 2019
Final Result: Mirko Cro Cop defeats Roy Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Mirko Cro Cop improves his score to 38-11-2, 1 NC MMA, 1-0 BMMA, Roy Nelson drops to 23-17 MMA, 1-3 BMMA.
