Paul Craig has spoken after his no-contest result against Rodolfo Bellato.
UFC veteran Paul Craig has spent in recent months with his preparation for his light heavyweight return to Rodolfo Bellato. Craig was initially planned to stand opposite Bellato on UFC Vegas 106, but Bellato withdrew from the game due to a herpes infection.
Craig and Bellato were again planned on Saturday in UFC Atlanta, where more drama unfolded in their fight.
In the opening round, Bellato received an illegal up-kick at the face and looked at the referee before he went wild to the canvas. The beaten Bellato was still in the attack mode when he was approached by the referee and the fight was ruled as a contest because of Craig's accidental up-kick.
A lot was made of Bellato's bizarre response to the illegal movement, in which many claimed that Bellato fake was kissed. Justin Gaethje called Bellato 'The largest flop in MMA history'.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Paul Craig does not think Rodolfo Bellato Faked Ko at UFC Atlanta
Craig and Bellato eventually shake hands after their disappointing no-contest result in Atlanta.
After the fight, Scotland Craig spoke to the story that Bellato had 'flopped' after his illegal up-kick.
“A few people sent me a message about this, and they say it looked a bit of dive, as if he might hampered it,” said Craig at the UFC Atlanta Post-Fight Press Conference.
“I don't want to think that a hunter is looking for an easy way out in this sport. We are all hunters. We are all in the UFC, the highlight of our career, and we want to do a performance.
“But I can see what people are looking at and think it looks a bit” floppe “,” he might take a dip … “
“I don't really think so, but I have to look back,” Craig added.
“It's raw at the moment.”
Paul Craig is now on four fight Winless Skid
Craig has seen better days in his 20-Vecht UFC career.
The UFC veteran is the only hunter who defeated Magomed Ankalaev and submits the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in his promotion debut in 2018.
Since then, Craig has exchanged victories and losses, once on a six-field undefeated series in the light heavyweight division.
Craig eventually moved to the middleweight division where he suffered three losses in a row to Brendan Allen, Caio Borralho and Bo Nickal.
The Scottish hunter is now Winloos in his last four fights and has not won since July 2023.