Bellator 231 pre-event facts: Frank Mir, Roy Nelson facing career-worst skids

Bellator kicks off its latest weekend doubleheader on Friday with Bellator 231, which takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., with a main card that airs on Paramount/streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

A heavyweight rematch is featured in the main event. Frank Mir (18-12 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) and Roy Nelson (23-17 MMA, 1-3 BMMA) are set to run it back after Mir won the first fight by unanimous decision at UFC 130 in May 2011.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest oft he main card, check below for 25 pre-event facts about Bellator 231.

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Main event

Mir is 0-2 since he returned from a more than two-year layoff in April 2018.

Mir’s four-fight losing skid is tied for the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since July 2015.

Mir is 2-8 in his past 10 bouts dating back to May 2012.

Mir’s 16 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (17).

Mir’s 13 stoppage victories in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Mir’s 10 first-round stoppage victories in UFC competition are the most in modern history.

Mir’s eight submission victories in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Mir’s eight first-round submission victories in UFC competition are the most in company history. Matt Hughes is second in the category with just five submissions in the opening frame.

Mir is one of four fighters in UFC history to earn more than one submission victory in less than one minute each. He’s accomplished the feat three times and is owner of the two quickest submissions in heavyweight history.

Mir is the only fighter UFC history to earn three technical submission victories.

Mir has attempted 21 submissions in UFC heavyweight competition, the most in divisional history.

Mir’s three knockdowns of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 92 are tied for the most in a single UFC heavyweight fight.

Nelson, 43, is the oldest of the 10 scheduled main card fighters.

Nelson’s three-fight losing skid is tied for the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2017.

Nelson is 3-8 in his past 11 fights dating back to September 2014.

Nelson is the only fighter in UFC history to record his first seven victories with the organization by knockout.

Nelson has suffered 14 of his 17 career losses by decision. That includes two of his three Bellator defeats.

Co-main event

Phil Davis (20-5 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) is 3-2 in his past four fights dating back to when he lost the Bellator light heavyweight title in June 2017.

Davis’ seven victories in Bellator light heavyweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Liam McGeary (nine) and Emanuel Newton (eight).

Remaining main card

Ed Ruth (7-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) is 2-1 since he dropped to the Bellator welterweight division in June 2018.

Ruth has earned six of his seven career victories by stoppage. He’s finished all of those wins by knockout.

Bec Rawlings (7-8 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes her Bellator debut following a seven-fight UFC stint and three bare knuckle boxing matches.

Rawlings’ four-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since March 2016.

Rawlings is 0-2 since she returned to the women’s flyweight division in November 2017.

Ilara Joanne (8-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), 25, is the youngest of the 10 scheduled main card fighters.

Jake Hager (2-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), a former WWE superstar, has earned both of his career victories by submission.