// Roster Index›Light Heavyweight›Dossier · Mike Nickels
UFC FIGHTER PROFILE_
UFC · UNKNOWNLIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Mike
Nickels

NICKNAME"Big"·UNITED STATES
PROFESSIONAL RECORD
9-5-0
CURRENT FORM
1L STREAK
NEXT FIGHT
NO BOUT ANNOUNCED
Mike Nickels
FIGHTER -
UNI🇺🇸
PROFILE PHOTO
PROFILE
PROFILE DATA! COLD
HEIGHT
6'4"
AGE
54
STANCE
ORTHODOX
WEIGHT
Light Heavyweight
PROFESSIONAL RECORD_
14 BOUTS
WIN
9
LOSS
5
DRAW
0
WIN RATE
64%
9/14 bouts
FINISH RATE
100%
of professional wins
LAST 5 FIGHTS1L STREAK · 2-3
WLLWL
STYLE SUMMARY_
DATA: COLD
FIGHTING STYLE
BRAWLER

Brawler fighter with grappling at the core — 67% of wins are by sub.

KEY STRENGTHS

Drags it to the mat and hunts the finish — submission threat opens up off transitions.

KEY RISKS

Top-position grapplers who can chain transitions force submissions when scrambles open up.

// PERFORMANCE_METRICS · 02_

STRIKE / GRAPPLE
VITALS

Observed profile rates compared with stored weight-class medians where coverage exists. Any fallback uses a labeled UFC reference average; no fallback is presented as a division median.

// SLPM▲ ABOVE
4.44
Strikes Landed/Min
Reference value 2.75
// STR. ACC▲ ABOVE
52%
Striking Accuracy
Reference value 49%
// SAPM▲ ABOVE
1.11
Strikes Absorbed/Min
Reference value 2.75
// STR. DEF▲ ABOVE
64%
Striking Defense
Reference value 53%
// TD AVG▲ ABOVE
11.11
Takedowns/15 min
Reference value 1.50
// TD ACC▲ ABOVE
80%
Takedown Accuracy
Reference value 40%
// TD DEF▼ BELOW
0%
Takedown Defense
Reference value 59%
// SUB AVG▲ ABOVE
2.80
Submissions/15 min
Reference value 0.50
// QUALITY_OF_COMPETITION · 02B_

WHO THEY
ACTUALLY FOUGHT

A record says how often a fighter won, not against whom. These ratings weigh every result by the opponent's strength at the time, then compare this fighter with the 56 rated fighters on the UFC light heavyweight roster (anyone with a UFC bout in the last two years or one booked).

THIN RATED HISTORY
// RATING
#51
against the 56 rated on the UFC light heavyweight roster · Elo 1484
// STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
14th
percentile · average opponent rated 1501 at fight time (recent fights count most)
// RESULTS VS EXPECTATION
7th
percentile · fell short of what opponents' ratings predicted (-0.22 per fight)

5 rated fights · opponents rated in 36% of recorded fights · last rated fight JUN 18, 2011 · Few rated fights: read these as rough.

// CAREER_BREAKDOWN · 03_

WIN CONDITION MAP

Where the wins come from, and where the losses came from. Method splits by knockout, submission, and decision.

// WINS (9)
n = 9
KO/TKO · 3
SUB · 6
3
KO/TKO
33%
6
SUB
67%
0
DEC
0%
// LOSSES (5)
n = 5
KO/TKO · 1
SUB · 4
1
KO/TKO
20%
4
SUB
80%
0
DEC
0%
// PATH_TO_VICTORY_
100% FINISH
KO/TKOEARLY ROUNDS · 3 fights
33%
SUBANY ROUND · 6 fights
67%
Top win condition: ko/tko · early rounds.
// DNA_PROFILE · 04_

ATTRIBUTE FINGERPRINT

Evidence-backed 0-100 scores built only from observed profile stats and disclosed bout-history proxies. This is a fixed Blueprint scoring model, not a division percentile; missing axes remain unknown.

// DNA_PROFILE_
3 OBSERVED7 DERIVED0 UNKNOWN
// BENCHMARK
FIXED SCORE SCALE
// LINKED SAMPLE
14 BOUTS
// PROFILE UPDATED
OCT 3, 2026
// RECORDED SOURCE
ufcstats
Fighter attribute fingerprint10 of 10 attributes have evidence-backed scores on the Blueprint fixed scale. Unknown axes are not plotted and no score represents a division percentile.KO POWER48TD DEFENSE20GRAPPLING96CHIN79STRIKING66CARDIO43AGGRESSION100SUB THREAT100STR DEFENSE76RECOVERY75
// BANDS
90+ELITE
70-89STRONG
45-69AVERAGE
30-44BELOW
<30LOW
N/AUNKNOWN
Highest scored axis: Aggression. Lowest scored axis: TD Defense.
// EVIDENCE REGISTER
10 SCORED · 0 OPEN
KO Power48
DERIVED PROXY

KO wins divided by total career wins

N=9 wins
TD Defense20
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed takedown defense rate (0%)

Grappling96
DERIVED PROXY

Composite of observed takedown volume, accuracy, and submission rate

Chin79
DERIVED PROXY

KO-loss durability proxy from career record

N=14 bouts
Striking66
DERIVED PROXY

Composite of observed striking volume and accuracy

Cardio43
DERIVED PROXY

Long-fight exposure proxy from bout duration and decision-win share

Aggression100
DERIVED PROXY

Activity proxy from observed strike and takedown volume

Sub Threat100
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed submission rate (2.8 per 15 min)

Str Defense76
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed striking defense rate (64%)

Recovery75
DERIVED PROXY

Share of recorded losses followed by a win in the next recorded bout.

N=5 losses
Fighter attribute fingerprint accessible data summary
AttributeScoreProvenanceEvidenceSample
KO Power48 out of 100DERIVED PROXYKO wins divided by total career wins9 wins
TD Defense20 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved takedown defense rate (0%)Not recorded
Grappling96 out of 100DERIVED PROXYComposite of observed takedown volume, accuracy, and submission rateNot recorded
Chin79 out of 100DERIVED PROXYKO-loss durability proxy from career record14 bouts
Striking66 out of 100DERIVED PROXYComposite of observed striking volume and accuracyNot recorded
Cardio43 out of 100DERIVED PROXYLong-fight exposure proxy from bout duration and decision-win shareNot recorded
Aggression100 out of 100DERIVED PROXYActivity proxy from observed strike and takedown volumeNot recorded
Sub Threat100 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved submission rate (2.8 per 15 min)Not recorded
Str Defense76 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved striking defense rate (64%)Not recorded
Recovery75 out of 100DERIVED PROXYShare of recorded losses followed by a win in the next recorded bout.5 losses
// CAREER_MOMENTUM · 05_

THE ARC SO FAR

Rolling momentum score (0-100) recomputed after every bout. Weighted blend of result, opponent context, and method-of-finish, designed to show the shape, not the destination.

// MOMENTUM_TIMELINE_
SCOREWINLOSS
0255075100SEP 2004WSEP 2004WDEC 2004LFEB 2005WSEP 2005WJUN 2006WAPR 2007LJUL 2007WJUN 2008WAPR 2009WOCT 2009LDEC 2009LSEP 2010WDEC 2010LJUN 2011// SCORE

  1. Start, SEP 2004, momentum score 45.
  2. Start, SEP 2004, momentum score 54, KO/TKO R2.
  3. Start, DEC 2004, momentum score 65, KO/TKO R1.
  4. Start, FEB 2005, momentum score 58, SUB R1.
  5. Start, SEP 2005, momentum score 67, SUB R1.
  6. Start, JUN 2006, momentum score 77, SUB R1.
  7. Start, APR 2007, momentum score 88, KO/TKO R1.
  8. Start, JUL 2007, momentum score 81, SUB R1.
  9. Start, JUN 2008, momentum score 90, SUB R1.
  10. Start, APR 2009, momentum score 100, SUB R1.
  11. Start, OCT 2009, momentum score 100, SUB R3.
  12. Start, DEC 2009, momentum score 93, SUB R1.
  13. Start, SEP 2010, momentum score 83, KO/TKO R1.
  14. Start, DEC 2010, momentum score 93, SUB R1.
  15. Start, JUN 2011, momentum score 86, SUB R1.

Peaked at 100 (W vs Funny), bottomed at 45 (Debut). Current reading: 86.

// KILL_SHOT_MATRIX · 06_

WHEN THE FINISHES COME

Cross-tab of fight outcome by method and round. Reads top-down for method, left-right for round. Cyan intensity scales with frequency.

// METHOD × ROUND_
14/14 fights mapped
METHOD ↓ / ROUND →R1R2R3R4R5FREQ
KO/TKO
3
21%
1
7%
-
-
-
4
total
SUB
9
64%
-
1
7%
-
-
10
total
DEC
-
-
-
-
-
0
total
// PRIMARY KILL ZONE
R1-R2 KO/TKO · 4 of 14 mapped
// LATE-FIGHT GAP
No R5 finishes either way
// DECISION RATE
0%, fights rarely go the distance
// FIGHT_HISTORY · 08_

BOUT LOG
14 FIGHTS

Detailed bout records for the indexed tenure. Sorted most recent first.

L
VS Robert DrysdaleJun 18, 2011
SubmissionR1 · 1:04
AFC 6 - Conviction
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Guillotine Choke)
W
VS Kyle SealsDec 11, 2010
SubmissionR1 · N/A
Nemesis Fighting - MMA Global Invasion
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Armbar)
L
VS Dwayne LewisSep 10, 2010
KO/TKOR1 · 1:30
MFC 26 - Retribution
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Punches)
L
VS Vinny MagalhaesDec 4, 2009
SubmissionR1 · 1:19
ROF 36 - Demolition
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Armbar)
W
VS David HeathOct 2, 2009
SubmissionR3 · 4:02
MFC 22 - Payoff
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
W
VS James FunnyApr 11, 2009
SubmissionR1 · 1:13
ROF 34 - Judgment Day
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Straight Armbar)
W
VS Vladimir VuckovicJun 13, 2008
SubmissionR1 · 2:18
ROF 32 - Respect
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
L
VS Stephan BonnarJul 7, 2007
SubmissionR1 · 2:14
UFC 73 - Stacked
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
W
VS Carpaccio OwensApr 28, 2007
KO/TKOR1 · 0:07
ROF 29 - Aftershock
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
KO (Punch)
W
VS Wes CombsJun 24, 2006
SubmissionR1 · 3:10
UFC - The Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
W
VS Noah InhoferSep 10, 2005
SubmissionR1 · 4:06
ROF 19 - Showdown
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
L
VS Craig ZellnerFeb 12, 2005
SubmissionR1 · 1:01
ROF 15 - Inferno
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Armbar)
// FAQ · 09_

CITATION-READY ANSWERS

Quick answers based on the public fighter profile and fight history shown on this page.

Light Heavyweight. Professional record 9-5. Unranked at the time of indexing.

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// FORECAST_AVAILABLE_
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// LAST INDEX SYNC · 2026-10-28