Rodolfo Bellato, a former LFA champion, is looking for a less dramatic fight this Saturday when he steps into the cage for the first time as a UFC co-main event fighter, facing Paul Craig at UFC Vegas 106.
Known as “Trator,” he joined the UFC following two appearances on Dana White’s Contender Series. His debut required significant resilience; he endured heavy attacks before securing a knockout victory against Ihor Potieria at UFC Austin in December 2023, earning a $50,000 bonus.
Slightly over a year later, with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira cornering him, Bellato faced danger again, nearly being finished in the first round by Jimmy Crute. Nevertheless, he recovered, completed the fight, and earned a rare majority draw decision.
Immediately after the fifteen-minute battle, Bellato spoke with UFC CEO Dana White backstage. White reportedly commended him for “getting beat up but coming back.” However, for UFC Vegas 106, Bellato desires a straightforward win, stating that any blood spilled should belong solely to Craig.
“Every fight offers lessons,” Bellato commented. “I`m grateful to have confirmed that I will never lack heart [laughs], but it would be preferable if there was less drama. Every fighter dreams of landing a single punch, seeing their opponent fall, and celebrating with their corner [laughs].”
Craig is moving back to the light heavyweight division after a run at middleweight from 2023 to 2024 resulted in a 1-3 record, with losses to Bo Nickal, Caio Borralho, and Brendan Allen. His prior departure from the 205-pound division followed losses to Johnny Walker and Volkan Oezdemir, leading Bellato to believe Craig is facing pressure.
“He wasn’t who I initially expected to face,” Bellato stated, “but once the fight was confirmed, my coach and I felt there was no better opponent for us right now. His style presents a strong strategic match for ours. It’s the ideal pairing. He is certainly dangerous and worthy of respect, but I feel I`m in a better position currently, especially as he’s coming off three defeats.”
“He’s a dangerous opponent with a solid ground game, but perhaps his style is somewhat predictable, allowing us to analyze it effectively and identify openings that align with our strengths. I’ve had excellent preparation for this bout, benefiting from a complete training camp this time. … He`s undoubtedly feeling pressure, having tried both [185] and [205]. However, I won’t let that affect my performance. I’ll approach this fight like any other, focusing on imposing my own game without overthinking my opponent.”
This will be Craig`s 20th appearance in the UFC, holding a record of 9-9-1 within the promotion. Notably, he has victories over notable fighters including future and former champions like Magomed Ankalaev, Jamahal Hill, and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Despite Craig’s history against elite competition and legends, Bellato anticipates his own versatile skill set will pose challenges for the Scottish veteran.
“In most of his bouts, aside from his recent fight against Bo Nickal where they primarily stood for three rounds, he typically seeks a takedown, pulls guard, and actively looks to engage on the ground,” Bellato explained. “Given that my previous fights haven`t heavily featured ground exchanges, I suspect he might assume going to the ground will be simple. However, he might not be aware that I am also a jiu-jitsu black belt and train extensively in groundwork. It won`t be straightforward for him if the fight goes there.”
“I’m not aiming for this fight to be a pure striker-versus-grappler contest,” he added. “Instead, I see myself as a complete MMA fighter who trains across all disciplines. I am prepared for any situation. No matter where the fight takes place, I am ready to secure the finish.”
