Tag: bellator 194

Following a hard-fought bout in the main event of last weekend’s (Fri., February 16, 2018) Bellator 194 from Uncasville, Conn., heavyweight Matt Mitrione called out his opponent, former UFC heavyweight Roy Nelson, for supposedly cheating in the third round by brandishing “Big Country” a “dirtbag.”

Mitrione claimed that during the frame when he was taken down and controlled by Nelson, “Big Country” put his toes in the fence to use greater leverage and rain down ground and pound on him. While Mitrione won and will advance to the next round of the Bellator heavyweight grand prix, he apparently isn’t happy with how Nelson acted nonetheless.

Nelson responded to the accusations by saying he thought he was the one who should be upset considering he lost, but if a third match (the two fought on The Ultimate Fighter 10) were to happen, a different result would happen:

That why if it ever happens again it won't be the same out come. I thought I was upset…. I lost. But who know maybe earn an alternate position and run it back! https://t.co/wFObylTs3p

— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) February 20, 2018

The series is 1-1, yet their feud appears to have taken a new and unexpected turn, perhaps in an effort to promote a third bout somewhere down the line.

Mitrione currently has his hands full with the rest of the grand prix competitors, however, so Nelson would have to gain an alternate position in the event of an injury to another competitor in order to face “Meathead” in the tournament.

Much stranger things have happened in MMA, and Nelson has beat Mitrione before.

What is your take on this rapidly-developing beef? Did Nelson cheat by putting his foot in the fence and not allowing Mitrione to escape, or is “Meathead” complaining about irrelevant issues based on the fact he won the fight?

The post Roy Nelson Reacts To Matt Mitrione’s ‘Dirtbag’ Cheating Accusations appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Prior to Bellator 194, which took place last Friday (Feb. 16, 2018) from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut, Matt Mitrione and Roy Nelson had always been cordial towards each other.

The two competed together on season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and then fought in 2012 when Nelson scored a knockout victory over Mitrione. After their Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix bout last week, however, which Mitrione won via a somewhat controversial decision, the feelings are no longer the same, especially from Mitrione’s end.

On today’s (Feb. 19, 2018) edition of The MMA Hour, Mitrione called out Nelson for using the fence and ‘cheating’ in the third round, which was a round that “Big Country” clearly won:

“Roy then took his right big toe and lifted his foot off the ground and stuck it inside the fence,” Mitrione said. “And then for 45 seconds — or 40 seconds or so — inside of that round when he was on top of me punching me or elbowing me, he was cheating. He had all this leverage, because he was pushing off the fence driving into me.”

Continuing on, Mitrione said that Nelson’s actions were ‘garbage’, once again voicing his displeasure with how the round played out:

“For Roy to grandstand, to be like, ‘Oh, I’m full of integrity, I don’t cheat, I don’t steroids or anything else, blah blah blah,’ and then when the fight comes down to it, to say you need to win, because you lost the first two rounds, then you start to cheat just so you can win?” Mitrione said. “That’s garbage, man. You’re a grandstanding dude with false integrity and I’ve got nothing for it. And if you guys think I’m being a sore winner, just go back and watch the film.”

The former NFL player then went as far as to call Nelson a ‘dirtbag’, while also saying that he’s got ‘character and quality’ issues:

“Old boy has got issues,” Mitrione said. “He’s got character and quality issues. I don’t like Roy Nelson. He’s not my dude anymore. I have no plans to be cool with him. If you’re gonna cheat to try and beat me, you’re a dirtbag and I’ve got no respect for you. So I’ve lost all juice for Roy. All of it.”

Those are certainly some bold claims from Mitrione, but what do you make of his comments?

The post Matt Mitrione Slams ‘Dirtbag’ Roy Nelson Following Bellator 194 appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.