Kyle Nelson (fighter)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Huntsville, Ontario, Canada[1]
| Kyle Nelson | |
|---|---|
 Nelson in 2023 | |
| Born | April 20, 1991 Huntsville, Ontario, Canada[1] |
| Other names | The Monster |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) |
| Division | Featherweight (2012–present) Lightweight (2011–2012, 2015–2018, 2022, 2025) |
| Reach | 71 in (180 cm)[1] |
| Fighting out of | Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada |
| Team | House of Champions MMA |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[1] |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 25 |
| Wins | 17 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 7 |
| Losses | 7 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Amateur record | |
| Total | 3 |
| Wins | 2 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 1 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Kyle Nelson (born April 20, 1991) is a Canadian mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC Featherweight division. He previously competed for the RXF promotion, as well as Elite 1 MMA. Nelson is a former featherweight champion in Elite 1 MMA.[2][3]
Early career
Born and raised in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada, Nelson began competing in mixed martial arts in 2011. He held a 2–1 amateur record and then competed in local North American professional promotions. During this time he won the Elite 1 MMA Featherweight Championship, and also fought for the Lightweight Championship in TXC MMA. He then signed with the RXF in Romania, Europe, and after with the UFC in 2018.[4]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Nelson made his promotional debut on December 8, 2018, on short notice against Carlos Diego Ferreira, replacing Jesse Ronson at UFC 231.[5] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.[6]
Returning to Featherweight Nelson next faced Matt Sayles on May 4, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 151.[7] He lost the fight via submission via arm-triangle choke 3:16 into round 3.[8]
Nelson fought next at UFC Fight Night 159 on September 21, 2019 against Marco Polo Reyes.[9] He won the fight via TKO at 1:36 of round 1, earning him his first UFC victory.[10]
Nelson was scheduled to face Sean Woodson in a catchweight bout of 150 pounds on June 27, 2020 at UFC on ESPN 12.[11][12] However, Nelson was pulled form the event due to visa issue and he was replaced by Julian Erosa.[13]
Nelson faced Billy Quarantillo on September 12, 2020 at UFC on ESPN 17.[14] He lost the fight via knockout in the third round.[15]
Nelson faced Jai Herbert on July 23, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 208.[16] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[17]
Nelson faced Choi Doo-ho on February 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 218.[18] The fight ended via majority draw.[19]
Nelson faced Blake Bilder on June 10, 2023, at UFC 289.[20] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[21]
Nelson faced Fernando Padilla on September 16, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 227.[22] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[23]
Nelson faced Bill Algeo on March 30, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 54.[24] He won the fight via technical knockout in round one.[25]
Nelson was scheduled to face Calvin Kattar on September 7, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 242.[26] However, Kattar withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Steve Garcia.[27] At the weigh-ins, Nelson weighed in at 148.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 20 percent of his purse, which went to Garcia.[28] Nelson lost the fight by technical knockout via elbows and punches in the first round.[29]
Moving up to lightweight, Nelson faced Matt Frevola on October 18, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 262.[30] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[31]
Nelson faced Terrance McKinney on March 28, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 271.[32] He lost the fight via technical knockout 24 seconds into the first round.[33]
Championships and accomplishments
- Elite1 Mixed Martial Arts
- Featherweight Championship[34]
Mixed martial arts record
| 25 matches | 17 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 4 |
| By submission | 4 | 1 |
| By decision | 7 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 17–7–1 | Terrance McKinney | TKO (head kick and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer | March 28, 2026 | 1 | 0:24 | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 17–6–1 | Matt Frevola | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen | October 18, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 16–6–1 | Steve Garcia | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady | September 7, 2024 | 1 | 3:59 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (148.5 lb) bout; Nelson missed weight. |
| Win | 16–5–1 | Bill Algeo | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot | March 30, 2024 | 1 | 4:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 15–5–1 | Fernando Padilla | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 | September 16, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–5–1 | Blake Bilder | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 289 | June 10, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Draw | 13–5–1 | Choi Doo-ho | Draw (majority) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivac | February 4, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Choi was deducted 1 point in round 3 due to a headbutt. |
| Loss | 13–5 | Jai Herbert | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall | July 23, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | Lightweight bout. |
| Loss | 13–4 | Billy Quarantillo | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill | September 12, 2020 | 3 | 0:07 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–3 | Polo Reyes | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens | September 21, 2019 | 1 | 1:36 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Loss | 12–3 | Matt Sayles | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy | May 4, 2019 | 3 | 3:16 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Return to Featherweight. |
| Loss | 12–2 | Carlos Diego Ferreira | TKO (punches) | UFC 231 | December 8, 2018 | 2 | 1:23 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 12–1 | Morteza Rezaei | TKO (punches) | Real Xtreme Fighting 32 | November 19, 2018 | 1 | 4:57 | Brașov, Romania | Return to Lightweight. |
| Win | 11–1 | Khama Worthy | KO (punches) | BTC 1 | May 27, 2017 | 1 | 1:03 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 10–1 | Gabriel Mănucă | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Real Xtreme Fighting 26 | April 25, 2017 | 1 | 3:50 | Brașov, Romania | Lightweight bout. |
| Win | 9–1 | Jonathan Brookins | Decision (split) | Z Promotions: Fight Night 2 | October 28, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 8–1 | Zoltán Turi | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Real Xtreme Fighting 23 | June 6, 2016 | 1 | 1:23 | Bucharest, Romania | |
| Win | 7–1 | Justin Bourgeois | TKO (punches) | Elite 1 MMA: Meltdown | April 23, 2016 | 1 | 2:01 | Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada | Won the vacant Elite1 MMA Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 6–1 | Adrian Hadribeaj | Decision (unanimous) | Triple X Cagefighting: Legends 6 | September 12, 2015 | 5 | 5:00 | Novi, Michigan, United States | For the TXC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–0 | Ainsley Robinson | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | Substance Cage Combat 2 | May 30, 2014 | 1 | 0:42 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 5–0 | Alex Halkias | Decision (unanimous) | Provincial FC 2 | March 8, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | London, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 4–0 | Neelan Hordatt | Decision (split) | Substance Cage Combat 1 | June 29, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 3–0 | Maxime Dubois | TKO (punches) | Ultimate Generation Combat 32 | May 10, 2013 | 2 | 1:36 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 2–0 | Jo Petahtegoose | Submission (armbar) | Score Fighting Series 6 | September 19, 2012 | 1 | 2:54 | Sarnia, Ontario, Canada | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Michael Dufort | Decision (unanimous) | Ringside MMA 13 | March 17, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Lightweight debut. Fight of the Night. |