Mitrione survives Nelson's late rally to advance in Bellator grand prix

He nearly saw his designs thwarted, but Matt Mitrione did just enough to even the score with Roy Nelson at Bellator 194.

The UFC alum found a home for his strikes at will for two of three rounds and survived a late rally to best Nelson by majority decision and advance to the semifinals of Bellator's heavyweight grand prix in the main event of Friday's bill in Connecticut.

Mitrione is now expected to face the winner of a May quarterfinal tilt between Ryan Bader and Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal - who was in Nelson's corner - after atoning for the first-round knockout he suffered at Nelson's hands under the UFC banner back in late 2012.

It looked like the Illinois native would cruise to a lopsided verdict after two rounds, as he repeatedly landed a stiff jab, lead right uppercuts and straights, and blistering leg kicks with relative ease while Nelson struggled to connect with his overhand right.

Nelson couldn't score takedowns until the tail end of each of the opening pair of frames, but wrestled Mitrione to the canvas with three minutes to work in the final stanza, and nearly turned the tables in transitioning to a mounted crucifix and peppering Mitrione's unprotected dome with punches. Mitrione valiantly survived Nelson's late heroics, and when the scorecards were read, two judges gave him the nod by 29-28 tallies, the dissenting party scoring the battle a 28-28 draw.

The decision improved Mitrione's Bellator record to a perfect 4-0, while Nelson has now split a pair of promotional bouts after besting Javy Ayala on points in his September debut.