Former LFA light heavyweight champion Rodolfo Bellato is looking for a less dramatic performance when he steps into the octagon to face Paul Craig in his first UFC co-main event this Saturday at UFC Vegas 106.
Known as “Trator,” Bellato earned his spot in the UFC via Dana White`s Contender Series. His promotional debut required significant resilience; he endured heavy pressure from Ihor Potieria at UFC Austin in December 2023 before rallying to secure a knockout victory and a $50,000 performance bonus.
His next outing, just over a year later with Alex Pereira in his corner, saw a similar scenario unfold. Against Jimmy Crute, Bellato was again nearly finished in the first round but displayed immense heart to survive, take the fight to the judges, and earn a rare majority draw.
Following the 15-minute battle with Crute, Bellato spoke with UFC CEO Dana White backstage. White reportedly commended him for “getting beat up but coming back.” However, looking ahead to UFC Vegas 106, Bellato`s goal is a decisive win, ideally one where any blood spilled belongs solely to his opponent.
Reflecting on his recent contests, Bellato commented, “Every fight teaches us something. Thank God I was able to see that I`ll never lack heart [laughs], but it would be better if it was with a little less drama. Every fighter dreams of landing one punch, seeing the opponent go down, and celebrating with their team [laughs].”
Paul Craig is returning to the light heavyweight division after a challenging 1-3 run at middleweight from 2023 to 2024, with losses to Bo Nickal, Caio Borralho, and Brendan Allen. He had previously moved down in weight after defeats at 205 pounds to Johnny Walker and Volkan Oezdemir, leading Bellato to believe Craig is facing significant pressure.
Bellato stated, “He wasn`t someone I initially expected to fight, but once the booking was confirmed, my coach and I agreed there`s no better opponent for us right now. His style is strategically advantageous and matches up well with ours. It`s the perfect matchup for me. He`s a dangerous individual who commands respect, but I feel I`m in a stronger position, especially considering he`s coming off three consecutive losses.”
He continued, “He is dangerous, certainly possessing a good ground game. However, perhaps his style is somewhat predictable, which has allowed us to study him effectively and identify vulnerabilities that align with our approach. I`ve had a thorough training camp for this fight. He`s undoubtedly feeling the pressure, having tried both [185] and [205], but I cannot allow that to affect my performance. I will approach this like any other fight, focusing on imposing my own strategy rather than solely thinking about my opponent.”
Craig is set for his 20th UFC appearance, holding a record of 9-9-1 within the promotion. His notable wins include victories over former and future champions such as Magomed Ankalaev, Jamahal Hill, and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Despite Craig`s extensive experience against high-level opponents, Bellato anticipates that his own diverse skillset will pose significant challenges for the veteran Scottish fighter.
According to Bellato, “In most of his bouts, aside from the recent one against Bo Nickal where it remained standing for three rounds, Craig typically seeks takedowns or pulls guard, persistently aiming to engage on the ground. Given that my previous UFC fights haven`t featured significant ground exchanges, I suspect he might assume it will be straightforward to take me down. However, he may not realize that I am also a jiu-jitsu black belt and train extensively in grappling. The fight going to the ground certainly won`t be an easy path for him.”
He added, “I`m not looking to make this strictly a striker vs. grappler contest either. I am an MMA fighter, training in all aspects of the game. I am prepared for any scenario. Wherever the fight takes place, I am ready to secure the finish.”
