Bellator 216: MVP vs. Daley - Predictions and Picks

#3. Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson

Can Mirko Cro Cop roll back the years again on Saturday?

I’ll freely admit that I’m not a fan of Bellator’s senior citizen circuit; I just don’t see the point in older, beaten up fighters taking any more punishment than they already have. Realistically, both Roy Nelson and Mirko Cro Cop should probably be retired right now – Cro Cop in particular – but here they are on a Bellator main card in 2019.

Bizarrely, Cro Cop has actually been more successful recently, as he’s on a 9-fight winning streak and has won 10 of 11 fights since first losing to Nelson back in October 2011. Of course, it’s notable that the PRIDE legend left the UFC in 2015 after admitting to using the banned substance HGH – a substance known to essentially rejuvenate people. So perhaps his winning streak isn’t as big a shock as it should be.

Nelson meanwhile joined Bellator’s ranks in 2017 but hasn’t had the best time – a win over Javy Ayala was followed with losses to Matt Mitrione and Sergei Kharitonov, and essentially, he’s been degenerating as a fighter for years; his once well-rounded game seems now reduced to winging a power right hand, and his legendary durability is definitely on the wane too, as evidenced by that loss to Kharitonov.

Cro Cop has never been the most durable fighter, particularly at Heavyweight, and as he’s slightly slower than he once was in his prime then it’s possible that ‘Big Country’ could catch him with a bomb and knock him out. But then Nelson is much slower than he was in his prime too. And in terms of the strikes that both men throw, Cro Cop is still far more varied and arguably more dangerous, as he’s liable to throw low kicks and a crushing left hand, as well as that infamous left kick to the head or body.

Add in the fact that Mirko now looks physically bigger and stronger than he did even in his prime – how he manages that is obviously anyone’s guess – and always had solid takedown defence, I’m not sure that Nelson is even capable of muscling him to the ground any more.

Therefore I expect this to be a striking match and given the likes of Matt Mitrione, Kharitonov and Alistair Overeem all pieced ‘Big Country’ upstanding, I see no reason why Cro Cop can’t do the same, assuming he’s careful. Will he get the finish? Nelson’s chin now looks cracked, so I don’t see why not.

The Pick: Cro Cop via second round KO