Bellator 183 live blog: Roy Nelson vs. Javy Ayala

This is the Bellator 183 live blog for Roy Nelson vs. Javy Ayala, a heavyweight bout at Saturday night’s Bellator event at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

Nelson, the UFC veteran making his Bellator debut, will square off against Ayala, who has won two straight by knockout, on the main card.

Check out the Bellator 183 live blog below.

Round 1: Tentative start for both guys, but it’s Ayala who gets off first with a brief flurry at the end of the first minute. Ayala catches Nelson with an uppercut and he’s throwing a lot more punches than the UFC vet. Nelson looks like he’s hunting for that big right hand. The actions goes to the cage with Ayala pressing forward, which turns out to be a mistake as Nelson quickly reverses position and gets the takedown. He’s working from half guard, landing short punches. Ayala trying to tie up Nelson’s arms, but Nelson is scoring with ground-and-pound. Nelson briefly attempts a kimura and as Ayala escapes, he ends up with Nelson on top in full mount. Now it’s Nelson with an Americana, but Ayala somehow explodes up and blasts Nelson with a jumping knee. The round ends with the heavyweights clinched up.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Nelson.

Round 2: Ayala coming forward again to kick off the round and this time Nelson waists no time getting a hold of Ayala and taking him down against the cage. “Big Country” goes back to working from half guard. Lots of time for Nelson to work here, and it doesn’t look like Ayala has the energy to power out like he did before. Ayala trying to turn over, which leaves him open to left hand punches from Nelson. They roll over awkwardly and Ayala manages to avoid an arm-triangle en route to standing the fight back up. Ayala is testing Nelson’s legendary chin with knees and a kick right to the face, and now Nelson is firing back with punches. Nelson cools things off with another takedown. He postures up and lands some solid elbows on and across Ayala’s forehead.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Nelson. Overall 20-18, Nelson.

Round 3: Just like the previous two rounds, Ayala wastes no time slugging. He gets Nelson with a nice looping right. Nelson looks like he’s laboring a bit, and Ayala punishes him with a combination finishing with a leg kick. Nelson absorbs some shots, but he drives in for another takedown and gets it. Back to half control for Big Country. Not a lot of damage being done here and the crowd starts to get restless as Nelson moves to side control. Ayala putting his feet against the cage, trying to use it to buck Nelson off of him. Nelson scoring with short rights from top position. No quit in Ayala as he’s still trying to power out. It looks like he’s finally out of gas though. Nelson closes the round with about a dozen right hands from on top and this one is going to the scorecards after 15 entertaining moments.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Nelson. Overall 30-27, Nelson.

Official result: Roy Nelson def. Javy Ayala via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)