Rodolfo Bellato denied accusations of faking unconsciousness after an illegal upkick by Paul Craig at UFC Atlanta, leading to a No-Contest, and expressed gratitude for support while affirming his integrity.
Rodolfo Bellato is adamant—he didn’t take a dive.
Last Saturday, he faced Paul Craig at UFC Atlanta, but things took an unexpected turn. At the end of the first round, Craig was on the ground with Bellato on top. Suddenly, “Bearjew” launched an illegal upkick that landed hard.
What happened next was odd. Bellato seemed to appeal to referee Kevin MacDonald as he fell backward, then appeared completely out cold.
This strange sequence ignited rumors that Bellato faked it, hoping for a DQ win. But “Trator” firmly denies these claims in his first comments since the fight.
“God knows everything!” he exclaimed. “To everyone supporting me, I’m fine and will return soon. Thanks a ton!”
He addressed online chatter, saying, “I saw people calling me an actor… I didn’t expect that illegal kick to the face. It was strong. When I looked at the ref, my body tingled, and my vision vanished. After that, I remember nothing.”
Bellato insists, “Anyone who knows me knows I’d NEVER do this. I’ve never backed down from a fight. I made weight twice in under 30 days. Why fake it after all that, especially when I was winning the first round? Anyway…”
He expressed gratitude, “Thanks to the real ones for the positive vibes. God’s got this.”
In the end, the fight was declared a No-Contest. Craig, who just completed his UFC contract, hopes the promotion will reschedule the bout later this year.