Nelson snags 2nd-round neck crank submission of Tumenov

An improved stand-up game helped Gunnar Nelson take the fight to the ground where he could exert his will over Albert Tumenov.

Nelson expertly used a takedown in the second-round to force Tumenov into a grappling match. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt moved into full mount, prompting Tumenov to roll to his front to try and stand up. Nelson locked on a body triangle, which set up a neck crank submission win:

The striker versus grappler dynamic unfolded as expected in the welterweight bout, with a few twists. Nelson used his karate techniques to keep Tumenov off-balance. Tumenov scored with punches and kicks to the body, but Nelson's unorthodox stance stifled the Russian's attempts to string together any damaging combinations.

Able to avoid any serious danger, Nelson was emboldened to implement his grappling game, which Tumenov was no match for.

Nelson rebounds from a humbling loss to Demian Maia last December to win his sixth fight in eight UFC appearances. He wins by submission for the 11th time in 18 MMA contests.

The loss ruined a five-fight win streak for Tumenov, who hoped that a win over Nelson would propel him to a match with a top-10 opponent.