In a funny conclusion to Saturday night’s UFC Atlanta bout, Paul Craig and Rodolfo Bellato’s light heavyweight contest ended in controversy after an unusual sequence that has the MMA world buzzing.
The bout, which had been previously scheduled for May before Bellato withdrew due to medical issues, was declared a no contest following an illegal upkick from Craig that appeared to render Bellato unconscious in the closing seconds of the first round.
What happened next left MMA stars, commentators and fans perplexed. As referee intervention began, Bellato, who appeared unconscious moments earlier, suddenly engaged with the official as if he were still in combat, attempting to play guard position with the referee who was simply checking on his well-being.
“I’ve never seen that while you’re knocked out,” noted one observer. “You’re getting hit in the brain, nothing acts right when you get hit in the face like that. Who knows, but that looked like nothing I’ve ever seen, that was a first for me.”
The incident has sparked debate across the MMA community. UFC star Angela Hill questioned the authenticity of Bellato’s reaction, posting on social media: “Am I crazy for thinking he faked this?? How do you look at the judge and complain on the way to being ko’ed?”
Former UFC champion Justin Gaethje was more direct in his assessment, calling it the “biggest flop in MMA history.”
The sequence began when Craig, desperately seeking to end a three-bout losing streak, found himself on his back with Bellato in top position during the waning moments of round one. Craig then launched an upkick that connected with Bellato, who was technically a downed opponent, making the strike illegal.
Slow-motion replays showed Bellato looking toward the referee as he fell backward before appearing to lose consciousness. The Brazilian, who entered the bout following a majority draw against Jimmy Crute at UFC 312, then had his unusual interaction with the referee.
“I was moving well. Landing my shots. Shot selection was perfect, but in the heat of the moment, I thought he was standing up,” Craig explained. “So, I throw my axe kick looking to land a heavy upkick to his face. That was my intention.”
When asked about Bellato’s reaction to the upkick, which some observers questioned, Craig was diplomatic. “A few people have messaged me regarding this and they’re saying that it looked a bit floppish,” Craig noted. “We’re all in the UFC, the pinnacle of our careers.”
For Craig (17-9-1), the no-contest ruling prevents him from securing the victory he badly needed to preserve his roster spot, while Bellato (12-2-1) avoids a loss on his record.
Whether this peculiar ending will lead to a third booking between the two remains to be seen, but Saturday’s inconclusive result certainly adds a unique chapter to UFC lore. It’s unlikely to happen because Bellato was previously pulled from the match when it was revealed he had a herpes outbreak.
and the oscar goes to… pic.twitter.com/Mjd9huaB5w
— calfkicker (@calfkickercom) June 15, 2025
