UFC 130 Results: Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson—What Went Wrong?

The UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill event will not go down in history as one of the best fight cards of all times, but it was detrimental to the future of all who fought last night.

Even though the main event and co-main event went about how I had expected them to, they didn’t go quite as I would have liked them to.

In the co-main event, Frank Mir vs. “Big Country” Roy Nelson, we saw what appeared to be a big brother making his little brother pay, for even thinking that he was at the former’s level.

The bell for round 1 sounds and Mir immediately presses forward with a one-two combination that backs Nelson up against the cage, obviously not yet ready to engage with the much larger Mir.

Nelson begins to implement his game plan early on and ties Mir up taking him to the cage where he attempts to tire Mir out by making him carry Nelson’s weight.

Of course, a tired Mir is easier to KO or submit than a fully energized Mir, so Nelson’s strategy isn’t completely useless as it does seem to make sense.

However, Mir would have none of it as he is obviously too big and too strong for Nelson, who really should be fighting at light heavyweight.

Mir begins throwing lethal Muay Thai knee strikes to the head of Nelson, looking for an early knockout.

The two friends eventually make their way back to the cage and the ref warns them to pick up the action.

Mir throws more potentially fight-ending knees and takes Nelson to the canvas and into a full mounted position with a beautiful throw that any accomplished wrestler would be proud of, but Nelson is limber and nimble like a welterweight on the ground and slips out and back up to his feet at the end of Round 1.

At the start of Round 2, Nelson is the first to engage realizing the urgency with which to turn the fight in his favor.

Mir defends with counters and uppercuts and ties nelson up against the cage, then drops for and scores a single-leg takedown.

Mir’s grappling by this point is obviously superior to Nelson’s, regardless of the fact that Nelson defeated Mir in a grappling match in 2003.

Nelson is obviously gassed and sucking major wind, while Mir covers Nelson's mouth with his hand in attempt to further weaken his struggling opponent.

Nelson gets to his feet once again and continues to throw right overhand bombs at Mir until the end of round 2.

Between rounds, the ref tells Nelson to pull his pants up. He already looks defeated as he struggles back to his corner.

Round 3 begins and Nelson throws sloppily at Mir, who moves easily out of the way of his big-bellied buddy.

Mir did not let up with the Muay Thai knees to the head and body of Nelson.

If Nelson is going to be finished, now if the time for Mir to turn up the heat as he looks to be ready to go two more rounds.

Mir takes Nelson down and doesn’t do much but manhandle him.

Nelson gets back to his feet only to be taken down yet again and Mir drops big elbows to the face of his grounded opponent.

Mir allows Nelson to get back to his feet just in time for the end of Round 3.

Nelson unquestionably has a chin made of iron and balls made of steel after sustaining a heavyweight beatdown from the two-time former UFC champion.

So, what went wrong?

Why was Mir not able to finish and why did he allow Nelson back to his feet toward the end of the third round?

I suspect that Mir began to feel sorry for his friend and didn’t have the heart to finish the job, seeing as how Nelson was obviously suffering a great deal of physical duress and being completely outmatched and outclassed.

It’s anyone’s guess but Mir’s, who despite seeming unharmed during or after the bout, went to the hospital for broken ribs and a fractured jaw.

Now the fate of Nelson’s UFC career lies in the hands of UFC President, Dana White as he along with Nelson and UFC match-maker, Joe Silva determine the next step for Nelson.

Despite it being a one-sided beating, this fight was not disappointing and actually did play out much as I thought it would.

What’s next for Mir and does this fight move him any closer to regaining the title? Only time will tell.