Welterweight

Gunnar Nelson

Last fought: Mar 2025

RECORD

Pro

19-6-1

UFC

10-6-0

Age

Height

5'11"

Weight

170 lbs

Reach

72"

Stance

Switch

Career Analytics

Advanced Metric	Career
Fight Shape
Avg Fight Time	10:20
Fight Completion Rate	63.6%
Avg Rounds per Fight	2.07
% Fights Inside the Distance	56.2%
Strength of Schedule
Opponent UFC Record (all, at fight time)	102-54 (65.4%)
Opponent UFC Record (among wins)	41-25 (62.1%)
Opponent UFC Record (among losses)	61-29 (67.8%)
Positional Profile
% Time at Distance (approx.)	51.2%
% Time in Control	35.3%
% Time Controlled	13.5%
Control Rate of Clinch/Ground Time	72.4%
Distance Striking
Distance Sig. Strikes Landed / Min	1.75
Distance Sig. Strikes Absorbed / Min	3.27
Distance Striking Differential / Min	-1.52
Distance Strike Accuracy	48.4%
Distance Strike Defense	59.1%
Power & Pressure
KDs per 100 Power Strikes Landed	0.64
Knocked Down per 100 Absorbed	1.29
TD Attempts per 5 Distance Min	2.48
TDs Faced per 5 Distance Min	1.12
Sub Attempts per 15 Control Min	2.82
Fade Index (R3 pace / R1 pace)	0.70

All metrics are UFC fights only. Methodology →

Where the Strikes Land

Share of landed significant strikes by target

Where the Fight Happens

Share of total fight time by position

Cumulative Significant Strikes vs the Welterweight field

Gunnar Nelson League percentile bands (p5–p95) League median

The shaded bands are the league’s middle range: the darker center covers the 25th–75th percentile of fighters, the lighter outer zones extend to the 5th and 95th — computed only over fighters whose careers reached each minute mark. How these are calculated →

Career Stats

Statistic	Gunnar Nelson
Striking
Sig. Strike Accuracy	61.2%
Sig. Strikes Landed/min	1.8
Sig. Strikes Absorbed/min	3.1
Strike Differential	-1.3/min
Grappling
Takedown Accuracy	52.4%
Takedown Defense	68.4%
Takedowns Landed/15min	2.0
Submission Attempts/15min	1.0
Control Time/15min	5:17
Finishing Ability
KO/TKO % of Wins	0.0%
Submission % of Wins	80.0%
Decision % of Wins	20.0%
Avg Fight Time	10:20
Secondary Stats
Knockdowns/15min	0.1
Reversals/15min	0.2

Last 5 Averages

Statistic	Last 5 Fights
Sig. Strike Accuracy	68.1%
Sig. Strikes Landed/min	1.5
Sig. Strikes Absorbed/min	2.0
Takedown Accuracy	47.6%
Takedown Defense	57.1%
Control Time/Fight	6:00

Fight History

LOSS

vs. Kevin Holland

UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady • Mar 2025Welterweight

Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00

Gunnar Nelson15/2462%TD 3/10Ctrl 9:29

Kevin Holland55/8962%TD 0/1Ctrl 1:04KD 1

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	5/9	56%	1/1	2:55	—
	Kevin Holland	19/37	51%	0/1	0:08	1

R2	Gunnar Nelson	3/6	50%	1/5	3:22	—
	Kevin Holland	17/23	74%	0/0	0:29	—

R3	Gunnar Nelson	7/9	78%	1/4	3:12	—
	Kevin Holland	19/29	66%	0/0	0:27	—

WIN

vs. Bryan Barberena

UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 • Mar 2023Welterweight

Submission (Armbar) • Rd 1, 4:51

Gunnar Nelson10/1191%TD 1/2Ctrl 3:13

Bryan Barberena7/1258%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	10/11	91%	1/2	3:13	—
	Bryan Barberena	7/12	58%	0/0	0:00	—

WIN

vs. Takashi Sato

UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall • Mar 2022Welterweight

Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00

Gunnar Nelson44/5580%TD 3/3Ctrl 8:09

Takashi Sato9/2339%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	24/29	83%	1/1	2:05	—
	Takashi Sato	4/12	33%	0/0	0:00	—

R2	Gunnar Nelson	12/16	75%	1/1	2:36	—
	Takashi Sato	3/4	75%	0/0	0:00	—

R3	Gunnar Nelson	8/10	80%	1/1	3:28	—
	Takashi Sato	2/7	29%	0/0	0:00	—

LOSS

vs. Gilbert Burns

UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier • Sep 2019Welterweight

Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00

Gunnar Nelson20/3656%TD 0/2Ctrl 4:49

Gilbert Burns30/7639%TD 1/3Ctrl 1:55

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	7/13	54%	0/0	0:28	—
	Gilbert Burns	11/28	39%	0/1	0:15	—

R2	Gunnar Nelson	6/14	43%	0/2	1:58	—
	Gilbert Burns	11/27	41%	0/1	0:57	—

R3	Gunnar Nelson	7/9	78%	0/0	2:23	—
	Gilbert Burns	8/21	38%	1/1	0:43	—

LOSS

vs. Leon Edwards

UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Masvidal • Mar 2019Welterweight

Decision (Split) • Rd 3, 5:00

Gunnar Nelson9/1850%TD 3/4Ctrl 4:22

Leon Edwards31/4963%TD 2/3Ctrl 3:29KD 1

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	3/3	100%	2/3	1:26	—
	Leon Edwards	5/9	56%	2/2	2:18	—

R2	Gunnar Nelson	3/11	27%	0/0	0:38	—
	Leon Edwards	23/36	64%	0/0	0:30	1

R3	Gunnar Nelson	3/4	75%	1/1	2:18	—
	Leon Edwards	3/4	75%	0/1	0:41	—

WIN

vs. Alex Oliveira

UFC 231: Holloway vs. Ortega • Dec 2018Welterweight

Submission (Rear Naked Choke) • Rd 2, 4:17

Gunnar Nelson11/11100%TD 2/5Ctrl 4:43

Alex Oliveira36/4973%TD 0/2Ctrl 3:06

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	2/2	100%	1/4	2:14	—
	Alex Oliveira	30/40	75%	0/0	1:44	—

R2	Gunnar Nelson	9/9	100%	1/1	2:29	—
	Alex Oliveira	6/9	67%	0/2	1:22	—

LOSS

vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio

UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio • Jul 2017Welterweight

KO/TKO (Punches) • Rd 1, 1:22

Gunnar Nelson5/771%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00

Santiago Ponzinibbio7/1258%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:03KD 1

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	5/7	71%	0/0	0:00	—
	Santiago Ponzinibbio	7/12	58%	0/0	0:03	1

WIN

vs. Alan Jouban

UFC Fight Night: Manuwa vs. Anderson • Mar 2017Welterweight

Submission (Guillotine Choke) • Rd 2, 0:46

Gunnar Nelson8/1844%TD 1/2Ctrl 3:03

Alan Jouban17/3352%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	7/13	54%	1/2	2:56	—
	Alan Jouban	10/19	53%	0/0	0:00	—

R2	Gunnar Nelson	1/5	20%	0/0	0:07	—
	Alan Jouban	7/14	50%	0/0	0:00	—

WIN

vs. Albert Tumenov

UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs Arlovski • May 2016Welterweight

Submission (Rear Naked Choke) • Rd 2, 3:15

Gunnar Nelson29/4466%TD 2/2Ctrl 4:18

Albert Tumenov23/4156%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	20/31	65%	1/1	2:19	—
	Albert Tumenov	13/24	54%	0/0	0:00	—

R2	Gunnar Nelson	9/13	69%	1/1	1:59	—
	Albert Tumenov	10/17	59%	0/0	0:00	—

LOSS

vs. Demian Maia

UFC 194: Aldo vs McGregor • Dec 2015Welterweight

Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00

Gunnar Nelson2/450%TD 1/1Ctrl 2:14

Demian Maia47/5881%TD 2/8Ctrl 10:56

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	1/2	50%	1/1	1:05	—
	Demian Maia	16/21	76%	0/4	3:15	—

R2	Gunnar Nelson	1/1	100%	0/0	0:52	—
	Demian Maia	19/24	79%	1/3	3:32	—

R3	Gunnar Nelson	0/1	0%	0/0	0:17	—
	Demian Maia	12/13	92%	1/1	4:09	—

WIN

vs. Brandon Thatch

UFC 189: Mendes vs McGregor • Jul 2015Welterweight

Submission (Rear Naked Choke) • Rd 1, 2:54

Gunnar Nelson6/875%TD 0/0Ctrl 1:26KD 1

Brandon Thatch8/1457%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	6/8	75%	0/0	1:26	1
	Brandon Thatch	8/14	57%	0/0	0:00	—

LOSS

vs. Rick Story

UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs Story • Oct 2014Welterweight

Decision (Split) • Rd 5, 5:00

Gunnar Nelson53/10750%TD 1/4Ctrl 0:22

Rick Story168/31553%TD 1/1Ctrl 0:36KD 1

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	8/13	62%	1/1	0:16	—
	Rick Story	18/39	46%	0/0	0:00	—

R2	Gunnar Nelson	11/26	42%	0/1	0:00	—
	Rick Story	29/62	47%	1/1	0:04	—

R3	Gunnar Nelson	8/18	44%	0/1	0:05	—
	Rick Story	32/63	51%	0/0	0:00	—

R4	Gunnar Nelson	10/24	42%	0/1	0:01	—
	Rick Story	41/77	53%	0/0	0:32	1

R5	Gunnar Nelson	16/26	62%	0/0	0:00	—
	Rick Story	48/74	65%	0/0	0:00	—

WIN

vs. Zak Cummings

UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs Brandao • Jul 2014Welterweight

Submission (Rear Naked Choke) • Rd 2, 4:48

Gunnar Nelson13/2454%TD 1/1Ctrl 0:43

Zak Cummings18/7524%TD 0/1Ctrl 0:54

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	6/15	40%	0/0	0:00	—
	Zak Cummings	9/43	21%	0/0	0:33	—

R2	Gunnar Nelson	7/9	78%	1/1	0:43	—
	Zak Cummings	9/32	28%	0/1	0:21	—

WIN

vs. Omari Akhmedov

UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs Manuwa • Mar 2014Welterweight

Submission (Guillotine Choke) • Rd 1, 4:36

Gunnar Nelson16/2080%TD 1/1Ctrl 3:06

Omari Akhmedov6/1638%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:02

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	16/20	80%	1/1	3:06	—
	Omari Akhmedov	6/16	38%	0/0	0:02	—

WIN

vs. Jorge Santiago

UFC on FUEL TV: Barao vs McDonald • Feb 2013Welterweight

Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00

Gunnar Nelson42/8052%TD 2/4Ctrl 5:38

Jorge Santiago43/12335%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:12

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	9/16	56%	1/2	0:55	—
	Jorge Santiago	15/44	34%	0/0	0:00	—

R2	Gunnar Nelson	19/32	59%	1/1	4:00	—
	Jorge Santiago	5/10	50%	0/0	0:00	—

R3	Gunnar Nelson	14/32	44%	0/1	0:43	—
	Jorge Santiago	23/69	33%	0/0	0:12	—

WIN

vs. DaMarques Johnson

UFC on FUEL TV: Struve vs Miocic • Sep 2012Catch Weight

Submission (Rear Naked Choke) • Rd 1, 3:34

Gunnar Nelson9/1090%TD 1/1Ctrl 2:51

DaMarques Johnson1/425%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:00

▼ Rounds

Rnd	Fighter	Sig Str	Acc	TD	Ctrl	KD
R1	Gunnar Nelson	9/10	90%	1/1	2:51	—
	DaMarques Johnson	1/4	25%	0/0	0:00	—

Last updated: 2026-08-22 | Data source: UFCStats.com