Former LFA champion Rodolfo Bellato is stepping into the co-main event slot for the first time this Saturday at UFC Vegas 106, where he will face Paul Craig. After enduring two back-to-back grueling battles in the octagon, Bellato expressed his desire for a less dramatic and more straightforward night.
Known by his moniker “Trator,” Bellato earned his place in the UFC through two appearances on Dana White’s Contender Series. His promotional debut in December 2023 at UFC Austin proved to be a test of his resilience. He survived an initial onslaught from Ihor Potieria before mounting a comeback to secure a knockout victory and a $50,000 bonus.
Just over a year later, fighting with then-light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira cornering him, Bellato found himself once again in deep trouble early in the fight against Jimmy Crute. Despite being nearly finished in the opening round, he showed immense heart, recovering to go the full distance and earn a rare majority draw.
Bellato recounted meeting UFC CEO Dana White backstage immediately after the tough 15-minute affair, saying White praised him for his toughness and ability to recover from being “beat up.” However, looking ahead to his upcoming fight at UFC Vegas 106, Bellato is focused on achieving a clean, decisive win. If blood is to be spilled, he wants it to be Craig`s.
“Every fight teaches us something,” Bellato remarked. “Thank God I was able to see that I will never lack heart in me [laughs], but if it could be with a little bit less of emotion, that’s better. Every fighter dreams of being there, landing one punch, the guy goes down and you go out celebrating with your coaches [laughs].”
Paul Craig is returning to the light heavyweight division after a difficult stretch at middleweight between 2023 and 2024, where he went 1-3 with losses to Bo Nickal, Caio Borralho, and Brendan Allen. His previous stint at 205 pounds ended with defeats to Johnny Walker and Volkan Oezdemir. Bellato believes this recent history puts considerable pressure on Craig.
“He’s not someone I expected to fight, but when it got booked, my coach and I said there was no better guy for us to fight right now,” Bellato stated. “A great strategy, a style that matches up well with ours. It’s the perfect matchup for us. He’s a dangerous guy and deserves all respect, but I’m in a better moment than him, who’s coming off three losses.”
Analyzing Craig`s approach, Bellato noted, “It’s a dangerous guy, he has a good ground game, but maybe it’s a style that is a bit predictable, and we’re able to study well and see holes that fit well with our game. I’m well-trained for this fight, I had a full camp this time. … He’s definitely feeling under pressure. He tried at [185], at [205], but I can’t let that interfere with my performance. I’ll go there and fight like any other fight, not thinking about my opponent. Go there and impose my game, you know?”
Craig is set to make his 20th walk to the UFC cage, holding a promotional record of 9-9-1. His resume includes impressive victories over notable fighters, including former and future champions like Magomed Ankalaev, Jamahal Hill, and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Despite Craig’s extensive experience against high-level competition, Bellato anticipates that his own well-rounded skillset will present significant challenges for the Scottish veteran.
“Most of his fights, except for his last one against Bo Nickal where he kept it on the feet for three rounds, he tries the takedown and pulls guard and tries to play on the ground at all costs,” Bellato observed about Craig’s tactics. “And since my fights had no significant ground work yet, I believe he’s thinking, ‘It’s going to be easier to go to the ground.’ But little does he know that I’m also a jiu-jitsu black belt and train that a lot. It won’t be easy for him if the fight goes to the ground.”
Bellato emphasized his identity as a complete mixed martial artist: “I don’t want to make this a striker-versus-grappler type of fight either. No, I’m an MMA fighter, and I train everything. I’m ready for anything. Wherever the fight goes, I’m ready to finish it.”
