Alan Belcher, who made a name for himself in bare-knuckle boxing, is returning to MMA to face Roy Nelson for the Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA heavyweight championship.
Alan Belcher, a well-known figure in the realm of bare-knuckle boxing, is set to reconnect with his initial passion, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Popularly recognized for his feats within the boxing ring, Belcher’s transition was announced by Jorge Masvidal this past Wednesday. The news revealed that Belcher’s next challenge will be his participation in the Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA championship against heavyweight, Roy Nelson. The event is scheduled to take place on October 28th at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi.
During the announcement of the match, Masvidal expressed his enthusiasm by acknowledging both competitors as true fighting powerhouses. He infused the moment by stating, “We’ve got both those freaking savages competing. I told you I’m bringing you freaking heat, brother.” He shared the news about the bare-knuckle heavyweight championship through an episode of ‘The MMA Hour’, a popular YouTube show among fighting enthusiasts.
Belcher’s professional career took shape with UFC where his performance left a significant imprint. However, he withdrew from MMA in 2015, only to return to the world of fighting six years later but, this time, with an inclination toward boxing and bare-knuckle boxing. His resilient endeavours paid off, and he accumulated an unbeaten record of 5-0 in boxing and 4-0 in bare-knuckle boxing. This even led him to secure the BKFC heavyweight title in February, thanks to his knockout victory over Arnold Adams. However, he was relieved from his title in June because of his involvement in a boxing bout for Misfits, as noted by BKFC officials. As for Roy Nelson, the former IFL and ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ champion experienced a remarkable journey in UFC and Bellator, which carried onward until 2020. Nelson’s chapter in bare-knuckle MMA began in May, marking his first participation with an applaudable first-round TKO win at Gamebred Fighting Championship 4.