Robert Nash (born March 26, 1990) is an American former

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

who competed in the

Welterweight Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term ''welterweight'' was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify th ...

division. A professional competitor since 2010, he has formerly competed for the UFC,

Bellator MMA Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) was an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and operated until 2025. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor ...

, and RFA.

Background

Born and raised in Roseville, Michigan, Nash started wrestling at the age of five. He attended Roseville High School where he competed in

wrestling Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves di ...

and

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

. During his senior season, Nash compiled a record of 62-1, capturing the state title at 152 lbs. and also had a third-place finish at 140 lbs. during his junior season. After graduating, Nash entertained offers from Division 1 wrestling colleges and chose

Lindsey Wilson College Lindsey Wilson College is a private, United Methodist-related college in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 as a training school, the college now offers in-person and online degree programs, offered at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and ...

where he wrestled for one year with scholarship. Wanting to wrestle in the

Big Ten Conference The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference, among others) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Fa ...

, he transferred to

Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State or MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State o ...

to continue wrestling for the Spartans. After graduating and earning his degree in sociology, he began training for MMA.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Nash held an amateur record of 13–0 and was the WXC Amateur Welterweight Champion before making his professional debut in 2010. He compiled a record of 8–1 before being signed by the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Nash made his UFC debut against Li Jingliang at UFC on Fox 23 on January 28, 2017. He lost via KO in the second round. In his second fight for the promotion, Nash faced Danny Roberts on July 16, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round. Nash faced Song Kenan on November 25, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Gastelum. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

XFC

Nash made his promotional debut for XFC against Spencer Jebb at XFC 43 on November 11, 2020. He won the bout via TKO in the first round.

XFC Welterweight Tournament

In the semi-finals of the XFC Welterweight Tournament, Nash faced Ryan Dickson at XFC 44 on May 28, 2021. He won the bout via KO in the first round and advanced to the final. Nash was scheduled to face LaRue Burley on August 6, 2021 at XFC 45 for the XFC welterweight tournament finals. However, roughly two weeks before XFC 45, Burley broke his hand during his last round of hard sparring, there being replaced by Quinton Parks Jr. on short notice in a bout that will not be part of the welterweight tournament. He won the bout via rear naked choke in the first round.

Bellator MMA

On October 18, 2022, it was announced that Nash had signed a multi-fight contract with

. Nash was scheduled to make his promotional debut against Roman Faraldo on June 16, 2023 at Bellator 297. In the beginning of May, it was announced that Faraldo had pulled out of the bout and replaced by

Kyle Crutchmer Kyle Crutchmer (born May 5, 1993) is an American professional mixed martial artist, freestyle wrestling, freestyle wrestler and graduated Collegiate wrestling, collegiate wrestler, who competes in the Welterweight (MMA), welterweight division. H ...

. Nash lost the bout in the first round, getting dropped with a punch and finished via ground and pound.

Personal life

Nash has four siblings: three brothers and a sister. Two of his brothers, Chris and Kevin, also wrestled for Michigan State. Nash has a son, Zander (born 2018) with wife Jessica Nash (m.2020).

Mixed martial arts record

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–1 , Leonard Simpson , TKO (punches) , Triple X Legends 6 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:21 ,

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nash, Bobby 1990 births Living people American male mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing collegiate wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu People from Roseville, Michigan Sportspeople from Macomb County, Michigan Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu American male sport wrestlers 21st-century American sportsmen