Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato can be cursed after a bizarre result at UFC Atlanta.
UFC Atlanta contained almost everything that Fight fans could want in a Fight Night Card on Saturday evening, including one of the strangest finishes you'll ever see.
A light heavyweight matchup between Paul Craig and Rodolfo Bellato was again planned for UFC Atlanta after a final second combat cancellation earlier this year. It was an important competition for both hunters; Especially Craig, who entered the matchup after he had lost three consecutive fights.
While Vecht fans expected an intriguing stylistic matchup between Craig and Bellato, few could have predicted the chaos that followed.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Justin Gaethje, others scold Rodolfo Bellato for the 'biggest flop in MMA history'
Bellato landed a large Takedown on Craig in round 1, received the top confirmation and appeared in control when the round approached. But with seconds, Craig landed an illegal up-kick that sent Bellato backwards and seemed unconscious because of the violation.
Craig quickly protested against the referee, who waved the fight because of the illegal blow. But it became stranger after Bellato originally seemed to complain to the referee immediately after the up-kick, before trying to struggle the civil servant while trying to attend.
Craig vs. Bellato was ruled as 'no competition' because Craig's Up-kick was considered 'by chance'.
View the chaotic scene below.
pic.twitter.com/ocz6rrc4ls
– Justthefights4 (@justthefights4) 15 June 2025
Many accused Bellato of forgetting the knockouts, including various prominent names. UFC hunters and fans became wild on social media after the end of the Craig vs. Bellato.
“The biggest flop in the history of MMA,” said Justin Gaethje in an X post.
“Am I crazy because he thinks he has falsified this ?? How do you look at the judge and are you complaining to Ko'ed?” UFC Strawweight Angela Hill placed on X.
“Oscar-worthy,” wrote a fan on X.
“Bellato should get an Oscar for that,” said another.
“You rinse that back. He falsified the ko.”
“That was wild!”
“Bad acting.”
“There is no way he pretends -.”
“Just like the city, this card has a bit of everything.”
“He woke up fighting demons.”
Craig and Bellato would come to UFC Vegas 106 last month, before Bellato was forced out of the matchup after a bizarre medical withdrawal.
Rodolfo Bellato blamed 'Herpes' for UFC Vegas 106 Vecht cancellation
After the first battle cancellation, Bellato claimed that a 'herpes' diagnosis of doctors forced him to pull it out of his planned UFC Vegas 106 collision with Craig. The fight was scratched at the height of the hours and then again planned for UFC Atlanta on Saturday.
From this letter it is uncertain whether Bellato vs. Craig is planned for the third time, or that the UFC matchmakers go in a different direction for both fighters. Bellato, an alum of the Contender Series of Dana White, went to a majority of draw with Jimmy Crute on UFC 312 before the back-to-back bookings against Craig.
De Craig vs. Bellato no-contest wort up some entertaining UFC Atlanta Prelim attacks on Saturday. Malcolm Wellmaker and Phil Rowe earned highlight-reel knockouts for a noisy crowd in State Farm Arena.