Rodolfo Bellato addresses illegal upkick KO controversy during Paul Craig fight at UFC Atlanta: "I started to blackout"

Rodolfo Bellato recently shared his side of the story after his matchup with Paul Craig at UFC Atlanta ended in a no contest. Despite the criticism, Bellato maintained his innocence, claiming that he was indeed hurt by Craig's illegal move.

Bellato's light heavyweight showdown against Craig was rescheduled to UFC Atlanta this past Saturday after their intial meeting at UFC Vegas 106 last month was scrapped due to a health issue from the Brazilian's side.

Bellato collapsed to the ground unconscious after Craig landed an illegal upkick at the end of the first round. But when referee Kevin MacDonald went to check on him, the 29-year-old regained consciousness while clinging to MacDonald's legs as if the bout had not ended. The fight was ultimately declared a no contest, leaving everyone disappointed.

Bellato was chastised by many in the MMA world for allegedly staging his knockdown to secure a disqualification victory. However, 'Trator' asserted that Craig's illegal move had truly affected him in a recent interview with Laerte Viana that was shared on Championship Rounds' X account.

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''When I took that kick, I tried to complain to [the ref] and my whole body started to tingle. I tried to complain, then I started to blackout...dude, I looked up at the ceiling and everything was spinning...The last thing I remember is that I was inside his guard. I thought I'd been caught in a triangle choke and passed out...Do you really think I'm going to go there and fake something? It doesn't even make any sense. I know my character, I know I would never fake something... After all, I was winning the fight."

Check out Rodolfo Bellato's comments below:

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Paul Craig defends Rodolfo Bellato after their unfortunate fight outcome at UFC Atlanta

Paul Craig's fight against Rodolfo Bellato at UFC Atlanta resulted in a no contest after the Scottish fighter hit an illegal upkick that sent Bellato flat on the ground, which many believe was theatrics by 'Trator'.

During the post-fight press conference, Craig backed Bellato, saying that the Brazilian wasn't ''looking for an easy way out.''

''A few people messaged me and they're saying it looked a bit 'flop'ish, like he was maybe hamming it up. I wouldn't think any fighter is looking for an easy way out in this sport. We're all fighters, we're all in the UFC at the pinnacle of our careers, and we're looking to put on performances...We shouldn't be looking to persecute him if he's taking the knee. It was an illegal move''

Check out Paul Craig's comments below (1:41):

About the author

Swagat is a dynamic MMA writer with a total experience of a little less than a year, which includes time in retail and sports journalism. He holds an MBA degree.

Swagat fell in love with the sport after watching the iconic grudge match between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 in early 2015. Nate Diaz holds a special place in his heart for the Stockton native’s entertaining fan-friendly style and ability to deliver exciting fights regardless of the opponent.

In terms of rule changes in MMA, Swagat advocates for making scores public after each round, adding transparency to judging decisions.

Swagat prioritizes accuracy and relevance while writing and conducts thorough research to ensure the content is fresh and reliable.

He enjoys playing football and painting during his free time.

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Edited by Swagat Kumar Jena