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Bruce Nelson
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Bruce Nelson

UFC Debut
Record
27-38-1, 1 NC
Streak
L2
Fighting out of
Fargo, North Dakota
Born
United States
Weight class
Light Heavyweight
Height
5'10" · 178 cm
Before the UFC

Bruce Nelson makes their UFC debut

Our striking, grappling, and schedule metrics are measured from UFC fights, so they come online after this bout. Here is the career they bring in — and how live the opposition has been.

UFC debut
Aug 20, 2026
Pre-UFC opposition
Moderate
Opponents' combined record
1567-763-56
.673 win rate
Winning-record opponents
28 of 58
carried winning pro records
Pro bouts faced
67
58 opponents with records on file

A descriptive read of the non-UFC slate from opponents’ full career pro records — not a UFC-grade Schedule Score.

UFC fight history

No UFC bouts on record yet.

Outside the UFC

27-38-1, 1 NCacross 67 bouts · 49 promotions · wins by 8 KO · 17 sub · 2 decMF · IFA · The Cage Inc. · Brutaal · MEF 1 +44
ResOpponentOutcomeFinishRdTimePromotionDate
L
Tyler Vivier
KO/TKOPunchesR10:25
MPX Promotions
Nov 10, 2018
L
Ryan Debelak6-4
KO/TKOPunchesR10:40
Dakota FC / Ultimate Productions
Dec 5, 2015
W
Miguel Cooley16-22-2
DecisionSplitR35:00
MF
Jan 31, 2015
W
Curtis Johnson6-13
KO/TKOPunchesR22:53
Dakota FC 18
Apr 26, 2014
W
Tim Saari1-1
SubmissionArmbarR13:01
MF
Mar 29, 2014
W
Jimmy Gomez5-4
KO/TKOPunchesR24:21
SMMA
Mar 8, 2014
L
Terence Joseph Medrud12-10
KO/TKOPunchesR12:42
MF
Nov 17, 2012
L
Ryan Antle17-13
SubmissionBrabo ChokeR31:06
Dakota FC 13
Oct 13, 2012
W
Roger Stiner7-13
SubmissionKimuraR12:24
NSC
Jul 20, 2012
L
James Wilkie5-10
DecisionUnanimousR35:00
MF
Mar 31, 2012
NC
Sherman Pendergarst11-18
No ContestAccidental Groin StrikesR13:31
CFX / Crowbar MMA
Feb 18, 2012
L
Sebastien Gauthier6-4
KO/TKOPunchesR10:30
Instinct MMA
Dec 2, 2011
L
Mike Ciesnolevicz19-4
KO/TKOHead Kick and PunchesR20:33
PFC
May 28, 2011
L
Rashad Brooks5-14
KO/TKOPunchesR11:42
The Cage Inc.
Apr 23, 2011
W
James Wilkie5-10
SubmissionRear-Naked ChokeR13:10
MF
Mar 19, 2011
L
Nick Wagner7-7-1
KO/TKOSubmission to PunchesR31:11
MF 12
Jan 22, 2011
W
Thomas Lies
KO/TKOPunchesR22:49
Impact Fighting Championship
Oct 23, 2010
W
Dean Lamb2-6
KO/TKOPunchesR22:14
KOTC
Jul 31, 2010
W
Ben Wicks3-18
KO/TKOSubmission to PunchesR22:05
MF
May 8, 2010
L
Shane DeZee15-21
SubmissionGuillotine ChokeR11:26
PBFN
Apr 17, 2010
L
Brandon Anderson7-6
KO/TKODoctor StoppageR15:00
PP
Sep 12, 2009
L
Demetrius Richards5-8
KO/TKOPunchesR10:46
The Cage Inc.
Jun 12, 2009
W
Jeffrey Fuchs
SubmissionRear-Naked ChokeR12:18
MF
May 30, 2009
L
Josh Froelich2-1-1
KO/TKOPunchesR10:31
Brutaal
Apr 18, 2009
W
James Miltenberger2-5
KO/TKOPunchesR12:46
EB
Mar 21, 2009
L
Zach Yencho
Submission—R12:00
Brutaal
Dec 13, 2008
L
Kevin Kelley8-1-2
KO/TKO—R10:51
FCC 36
Sep 12, 2008
L
Travis McCullough20-47
SubmissionArmbarR13:24
MF
Sep 7, 2007
L
Otis Funk4-3
Decision—R35:00
CFX 5
Apr 21, 2007
W
Monte Fassatt3-2
Submission—R10:00
CFC
Mar 7, 2007
L
Jeremy Lang21-2
KO/TKOSubmission to PunchesR2—
CFX
Aug 25, 2006
L
Clayton Miller39-27-1
SubmissionTriangle ChokeR12:11
DFC 2
Sep 25, 2004
L
Dan Hart9-9
SubmissionRear-Naked ChokeR13:59
FCC 14
Mar 6, 2004
W
Roger Stiner7-13
Submission—R20:49
AAF 3
Jun 14, 2003
D
Travis Fulton255-54-10
Draw—R33:00
SS
Apr 26, 2003
L
Laine McDaniel3-4
SubmissionRear-Naked ChokeR13:35
Dangerzone 17
Apr 12, 2003
W
Royce Louck9-18
SubmissionArmbarR00:00
MEF 1
Apr 4, 2003
W
D.R. Williams3-8
SubmissionRear-Naked ChokeR00:00
MEF 1
Apr 4, 2003
W
Paul Compton1-1
SubmissionArmbarR1—
FCC 10
Mar 22, 2003
W
Jacob Walters
SubmissionRear-Naked ChokeR11:38
AA
Mar 15, 2003
W
Clayton Miller39-27-1
SubmissionArmbarR14:32
IFA
Nov 1, 2002
W
Dane Wheeler
SubmissionArmbarR13:42
IFA
Nov 1, 2002
W
Kevin Oliver6-9
Decision—R110:00
IFA
Nov 1, 2002
W
Davey Conger13-14
SubmissionArmbarR24:31
AAF 2
Sep 14, 2002
W
Royce Louck9-18
SubmissionGuillotine ChokeR10:50
ARCF 5
Aug 10, 2002
W
Royce Louck9-18
KO/TKO—R15:38
AAF 1
May 10, 2002
L
Chris Fontaine18-11
SubmissionTriangle ChokeR12:41
Dangerzone 13
Apr 13, 2002
L
Travis Fulton255-54-10
KO/TKOSubmission to PunchesR12:38
FNF
Jan 18, 2002
W
Rory Prazak22-25
KO/TKOSubmission to PunchesR10:35
FNF
Jan 18, 2002
L
Eric Schwartz2-0
KO/TKOElbows and PunchesR10:59
WEC
Oct 4, 2001
L
Clayton Miller39-27-1
KO/TKOElbowsR20:53
IC 3
Sep 22, 2001
L
Lalo Moz2-0
KO/TKOPunchR10:08
WEC
Jun 30, 2001
W
Charlie Dearborn3-11
SubmissionArmbarR1—
MSF
Jun 15, 2001
L
Matt Hughes45-9
SubmissionGuillotine ChokeR13:04
FCC 4
Mar 31, 2001
L
Aaron Raftery
KO/TKO—R00:00
FCC 2
Nov 15, 2000
L
Travis Fulton255-54-10
SubmissionGuillotine ChokeR11:19
IFF 5
Sep 23, 2000
L
Travis Fulton255-54-10
KO/TKOPunchesR12:54
IFF 5
Sep 23, 2000
L
Theo Brooks4-3
DecisionUnanimousR110:00
WVT
May 10, 2000
L
Mark Jaquith16-8-3
KO/TKOSubmission to PunchesR11:28
IFF 2
Mar 3, 2000
W
Brad Schafer3-9
SubmissionAnkle LockR15:18
IFF 2
Mar 3, 2000
L
Nate Parmelee7-1
SubmissionRear-Naked ChokeR00:00
Gladiators 4
Mar 2, 2000
L
Pat Pytko1-1-1
SubmissionArmbarR13:40
MAC
Dec 4, 1999
W
Dave Marinez
SubmissionArmbarR15:50
MAC
Dec 4, 1999
L
Adam Palmer1-4
Decision—R110:00
FCC 1
Apr 19, 1999
L
Jim Hurley1-0
SubmissionKeylockR1—
FCC 1
Apr 19, 1999
L
Ryan Dunphy
SubmissionArmbarR16:36
IFC 8
Jun 20, 1998
L
Joe Slick16-5-3
SubmissionRear-Naked ChokeR12:41
Gladiators
Apr 18, 1998

Non-UFC bouts (regional/other promotions) — shown for context only, excluded from Schedule Score, striking/grappling rates, and every UFC-scoped metric.

Amateur

0-2across 2 amateur bouts · 1 promotionECT
ResOpponentOutcomeFinishRdTimePromotionDate
L
Jeremy Motl
SubmissionFront ChokeR11:03
ECT
Dec 5, 1998
L
Wade Kroeze0-1
SubmissionKeylockR12:44
ECT
Feb 7, 1998

Amateur (pre-professional) bouts — shown for context only and excluded from the professional record and every UFC-scoped metric.