In a recent UFC bout that concluded with a controversial no contest, Paul Craig has called on fans to refrain from persecuting his opponent, Rodolfo Bellato. The light-heavyweight fight, held at Atlanta's State Farm Arena on Saturday, ended abruptly due to an accidental illegal upkick delivered by Craig as the first round was nearing its conclusion.
With Craig on his back, he executed a kick that made contact with Bellato's head and neck area. This unexpected strike caused Bellato to fall to the ground with his arms raised in a defensive position. The referee quickly intervened, ruling the strike as an accidental foul, which ultimately led to the fight being declared a no contest.
Following the fight, Bellato faced backlash from critics who suggested he might have exaggerated the severity of his injury. Former MMA fighter Justin Lesko went as far as to label the incident as “embarrassing,” questioning whether it was “the worst flop in UFC history.” In response to the criticism, Bellato took to Instagram to defend his actions, stating: “I saw some things on the internet, saying that I was an actor. When I was on the ground, I didn’t expect to get kicked in the face (illegally).”
Bellato continued, explaining the physical impact of the kick: “It was a strong kick. My whole body started to tingle and my vision disappeared. After that, I don’t remember anything.” He emphasized his integrity as a fighter, saying, “Those who have known me a long time know that I would NEVER do that. I have never run away from a fight.”
In the aftermath of the fight, Craig acknowledged that he had committed an “illegal move” and came to Bellato's defense amidst the criticism. “A few people have messaged me regarding Bellato’s conduct, saying it looked a bit ‘floppish,’” Craig said. “I don’t want to think any fighter is looking for an easy way out in this sport.” He expressed understanding of why some might perceive Bellato's actions as questionable but insisted that all fighters aim to perform at their best in the UFC.
This bout was particularly significant for Craig, as it was a crucial moment in his career following a three-fight losing streak. The fight had initially been scheduled 14 weeks prior but was postponed due to Bellato falling ill on the day of the bout. The controversial conclusion left Craig feeling “raw,” especially since he had moved up in weight to face Bellato in what was the final fight of his current UFC contract.
Craig shared his observations during the fight, stating, “I was in the neutral corner, and I saw him flop as if he was wrestling the referee and seemed dazed. But when I spoke to him, he appeared coherent.” He concluded that both he and Bellato shared responsibility for the incident, urging fans not to vilify Bellato for taking a knee after the illegal strike.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Craig found silver linings in the no contest ruling, stating, “I’m now in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I wanted to make a stamp in that division and say: ‘Hey, I’m back.’” He reflected positively on his performance, noting that he felt good, was moving well, and had effective shot selection throughout the fight. However, Craig acknowledged that in the heat of the moment, he misjudged the situation, leading to the unfortunate illegal kick.
