10 Europeans to Watch in 2011

---

Gunnar Nelson (8-0-1)

Nelson is perhaps the truest bona fide elite prospect on the European scene today. The Renzo Gracie black belt introduced himself to the wider MMA community with a spectacular campaign in the absolute bracket on 2009's Abu Dhabi Combat Club World Championships, outgrappling much larger former heavyweight champ Jeff Monson and choking out David Avellan. In 2010, the Icelander came back to MMA competition and notched three quick victories, dominating Brit hopefuls Danny Mitchell and Eugene Fadiora and tapping both. For all his BJJ prowess -- frankly, unmatched on the continent -- Nelson was a karateka first, and is no slouch as a striker. He's able to throw the kinds of heavy, precise strikes we see in other top karate exports like Lyoto Machida and Katsunori Kikuno. Nelson is the total package, and the only things that will hold him back in 2011 are opponents not wanting to face him, or a decision to focus on ADCC 2011.

Continue Reading » Next Prospect: Tom Niinimaki