Former LFA champion Rodolfo Bellato is hoping for a straightforward night in the octagon as he prepares to co-headline a UFC event for the first time on Saturday, facing Paul Craig at UFC Vegas 106.
Known as “Trator,” Bellato secured his spot in the UFC after two appearances on Dana White’s Contender Series. His debut required immense fortitude, as he survived an early onslaught before ultimately knocking out Ihor Potieria and earning a $50,000 performance bonus at UFC Austin in December 2023.
Just over a year later, with then-light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira supporting him in his corner, Bellato once again faced a near-finish in the opening round, this time against Jimmy Crute. However, he dug deep, survived the storm, and pushed through to the final bell, resulting in a rare majority draw.
Bellato recounted meeting UFC CEO Dana White backstage shortly after the demanding 15-minute fight, saying White praised him for his ability to absorb damage and “come back.” For UFC Vegas 106, though, Bellato`s objective is a clean victory. He hopes that if any blood is shed, it belongs solely to Craig.
“Every fight teaches us something,” Bellato commented. “Thankfully, I`ve confirmed I will never lack heart [laughs], but if I could achieve that with a little less drama, that would be better. Every fighter dreams of the simple win: landing one punch, the guy goes down, and you walk off celebrating with your coaches [laughs].”
Craig is moving back to the light heavyweight division after a difficult stint at middleweight from 2023 to 2024, where he went 1-3 with losses to Bo Nickal, Caio Borralho, and Brendan Allen. His previous departure from the 205-pound division also followed defeats (to Johnny Walker and Volkan Oezdemir), leading Bellato to believe Craig is under significant pressure.
“He wasn’t an opponent I specifically anticipated,” Bellato stated, “but once the fight was booked, my coach and I agreed he’s the best possible matchup for us right now. Strategically, his style aligns well with ours. It feels like the perfect pairing. He`s a dangerous fighter and deserves respect, but I believe I’m in a better phase of my career than him, especially considering he’s coming off three straight losses.”
Bellato continued, “He`s a dangerous opponent with a solid ground game, but perhaps his style is somewhat predictable. This allows us to analyze him thoroughly and spot weaknesses that fit our game plan. I’m well-prepared for this fight; I had a full training camp this time. He`s definitely facing pressure, having tried both [185] and [205], but I won’t let that affect my performance. I’ll approach it like any other fight, focusing on imposing my style rather than worrying about my opponent.”
This upcoming bout marks Craig’s 20th appearance in the UFC octagon, where he holds a record of 9-9-1. His impressive victories include wins over fighters who became or were former champions, such as Magomed Ankalaev, Jamahal Hill, and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Despite Craig’s extensive experience against elite competition and legends, Bellato is confident that his own diverse skill set will pose challenges for the veteran Scottish fighter.
Bellato explained, “In most of his fights, except for his recent one against Bo Nickal where they stayed standing for three rounds, he typically attempts takedowns, pulls guard, and heavily focuses on fighting on the ground. Since my previous UFC fights haven`t involved much ground work, I suspect he might think going to the ground with me will be easy. However, he might not be aware that I am also a jiu-jitsu black belt and train ground fighting extensively. It won`t be simple for him if the fight goes to the mat.”
“I don’t intend for this to become just a striker-versus-grappler kind of fight either,” he added. “No, I consider myself a complete MMA fighter, training in all disciplines. I am ready for anything. Regardless of where the fight takes us, I am prepared to find the finish.”
