In a one-sided beatdown that showed the difference between a Top 10 heavyweight and a second-tier heavyweight, Frank Mir easily defeated Roy Nelson by unanimous decision at UFC 130.
The fight was never close, with Mir dominating the early going in the stand-up and then cruising to an easy victory on the ground late. It wasn't much of an effort for Nelson, who was completely outclassed. The judges scored it 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26 for Mir.
"I'm feeling great," Mir said. "How many times did I hit him in the face? What's up with that guy's chin?"
The first round showed Mir at his best, repeatedly using a Thai clinch to knee Nelson, and then executing a beautiful throw to put Nelson on his back in the final minute of the first round.
Early in the second Mir went for a single-leg takedown and got it, again putting Nelson on his back and ending up in his half guard. Mir wasn't able to do much to Nelson on the ground, but it was clear he could put Nelson there whenever he wanted.
In the third the fight started to get dull, as Mir continued to show that he could control Nelson any way he wanted to. In improving his professional MMA record to 16-5, Mir put on a one-sided beatdown, and he could be getting close to heavyweight title contention again.
As for Nelson, who falls to 14-6, it was an ugly performance for a fighter who needs to take his conditioning seriously and step up his game. Nelson is a popular and well-liked fighter, but he hasn't won a fight in 14 months. He's not in Mir's league.
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Gleison Tibau def. Rafaello Oliveira
Gleison Tibau at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Gleison Tibau def. Rafaello Oliveira
Gleison Tibau throws punches against Rafaello Oliveira at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Gleison Tibau def. Rafaello Oliveira
Esther Lin for MMA FightingGleison Tibau throws a punch against Rafaello Oliveira at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Gleison Tibau def. Rafaello Oliveira
Rafaello Oliveira is ready to face Gleison Tibau at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Michael McDonald def. Chris Cariaso
Michael McDonald def. Chris Cariaso at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Michael McDonald def. Chris Cariaso
Esther Lin for MMA FightingMichael McDonald def. Chris Cariaso at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Michael McDonald def. Chris Cariaso
Esther Lin for MMA FightingMichael McDonald gets kicked by Chris Cariaso at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Michael McDonald def. Chris Cariaso
Michael McDonald (right) punches Chris Cariaso at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Renan Barao def. Cole Escovedo
Renan Barao def. Cole Escovedo at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011. Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
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Renan Barao def. Cole Escovedo
Renan Barao punches Cole Escovedo at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Renan Barao def. Cole Escovedo
Renan Barao readies to face Cole Escovedo at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 Photos
Brian Stann celebrates his second-round knockout win at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 Photos
Jorge Santiago is checked out at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 Photos
Brian Stann punches Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 Photos
Brian Stann punches Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 Photos
Brian Stann punches Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Jorge Santiago punches Brian Stann at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Jorge Santiago throws a head kick at Brian Stann at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Demetrious Johnson def. Miguel Torres
Demetrious Johnson def. Miguel Torres at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Demetrious Johnson def. Miguel Torres
Demetrious Johnson paces around the cage at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Demetrious Johnson def. Miguel Torres
Miguel Torres on top of Demetrious Johnson at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 Photos
Miguel Torres gets ready for his UFC 130 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Tim Boetsch def. Kendall Grove
Tim Boetsch punches Kendall Grove at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Tim Boetsch def. Kendall Grove
Tim Boetsch takes down Kendall Grove at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Travis Browne def. Stefan Struve
Travis Browne def. Stefan Struve at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 photos
Travis Browne knocks out Stefan Struve at UFC 130. Check out all our photos from Saturday's event by clicking view gallery.
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Travis Browne def. Stefan Struve
Travis Browne def. Stefan Struve at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rick Story def. Thiago Alves
Rick Story def. Thiago Alves at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rick Story def. Thiago Alves
Rick Story takes a knee from Thiago Alves at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rick Story def. Thiago Alves
Rick Story takes down Thiago Alves at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rick Story def. Thiago Alves
Thiago Alves throws a punch at Rick Story at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rick Story def. Thiago Alves
Thiago Alves throws a punch at Rick Story at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Matt Hamill showing signs of fatigue at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Matt Hamill ties up with Rampage Jackson at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson punches Matt Hamill at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson punches Matt Hamill at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson punches Matt Hamill at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Matt Hamill takes a breather against the fence at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson makes his entrance to face Matt Hamill at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Matt Hamill supporters hold up signs at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Roy Nelson returns to his locker room after losing to Frank Mir at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Frank Mir on top of Roy Nelson at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Roy Nelson battles Frank Mir at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Roy Nelson is tired at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Frank Mir strikes Roy Nelson at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Roy Nelson and Frank Mir touch gloves at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Roy Nelson is ready to face Frank Mir at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Frank Mir makes his entrance against Roy Nelson at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Esther Lin for MMA FightingBrian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Esther Lin for MMA FightingBrian Stann punches Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Esther Lin for MMA FightingBrian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann vs. Jorge Santiago
Esther Lin for MMA FightingBrian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Esther Lin for MMA FightingBrian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Esther Lin for MMA FightingBrian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Esther Lin for MMA FightingBrian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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