Jun 14, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, UNITED STATES; Paul Craig (red gloves) reacts during the fight against Rodolfo Bellato (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Paul Craig vs Rodolfo Bellato At UFC Atlanta Results In No Contest After Illegal Strike Lands

Paul Craig vs Rodolfo Bellato at the UFC Atlanta main card goes to a no contest after an illegal strike lands!

Paul Craig has built his UFC career on being somewhat of an enigma. He is a fighter who can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with his crafty submissions and never-say-die attitude. The Scottish grappler has pulled off some spectacular comeback wins during his lengthy UFC tenure, earning him a reputation as someone who’s never truly out of a fight until the final bell rings. His record might not scream superstar, but Craig has consistently delivered entertaining scraps that keep fans on the edge of their seats.

However, what happened at UFC Atlanta wasn’t the kind of entertainment anyone was expecting. The Brazilian newcomer Bellato had been scheduled to face Craig a month earlier, but a medical issue forced a postponement. Little did anyone know that when they finally stepped into the octagon together, their fight would end in the most confusing way possible, with just one second left in the opening round.

The Upkick That Ended The Fight

The fight was progressing normally until those final seconds of round one. Craig found himself on his back, a position he’s comfortable working from given his submission skills. As the clock ticked down, he threw an upkick that connected flush with Bellato’s chin. The Brazilian appeared to be knocked unconscious instantly, but what followed was a sequence of events that left everyone in State Farm Arena confused.

Bellato gets knocked out from an illegal up-kick from Paul Craig pic.twitter.com/eAamVPUC1N
— UFC King🇺🇸 (@UFCFriedChicken) June 15, 2025

Rodolfo Bellato started fighting the ref after Paul Craig Knocked him out 💀 #UFCAtlanta pic.twitter.com/W4XoCN2lE2
— MMA Homie Podcast (@theMMAhomies) June 15, 2025

Bellato seemed to regain consciousness, looked at referee Kevin MacDonald, then scrambled to the cage fence while still on his back. When MacDonald approached to check on him, Bellato briefly grabbed at the official’s legs. The referee and cageside physicians spent several minutes examining Bellato to determine if he could continue fighting. After reviewing the replay footage, MacDonald made his decision. Since the kick was ruled accidental rather than intentional, and Bellato was deemed unable to continue, the bout was declared a no contest. Neither fighter got a win or loss on their record.

Paul Craig Talks About The No Contest

At the post-fight conference, Craig talked about the upkick and the consequences of the strike. He however, did not believe that Bellato was knocked out and subtly pointed that he might be faking in order to get the DQ win.

“A few people have messages me regarding this and they said it looked a bit floppish. Like maybe he was humming it up… He’s maybe taking a dive, but I don’t want to think that… When I spoke to him, he seemed composed. He said ‘ I don’t know what happened.'”

Paul Craig reacts to the bizarre ending to his fight against Rodolfo Bellato at #UFCAtlanta:

"A few people have messaged me regarding this, and they're saying it looked a bit floppish." pic.twitter.com/2g6MXf8o9G
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 15, 2025

Craig said that he needed to rewatch the clip and then make his final judgement. But at the moment, he remained respectful of Bellato, not riding the ‘he faked it’ train as an excuse. But, coming days will show whether this attitude remains.

What Is The Upkick And Why Is It Illegal?

An upkick is exactly what it sounds like. It is a kick thrown upward, typically by a fighter who’s on their back. It’s a legitimate technique that can be devastatingly effective when used properly. Fighters often use upkicks to create distance, set up sweeps, or even score knockouts against opponents who are standing over them. The technique requires good timing and flexibility, but when executed correctly, it can completely change the momentum of a fight.

The legality of upkicks depends entirely on whether the opponent is considered “grounded” under UFC rules. A grounded fighter is someone who has any part of their body other than their hands and feet touching the canvas. This includes knees, which was the crucial factor in Craig’s situation. When Craig threw his upkick, Bellato’s knee was down, making him grounded.

Under current UFC rules, kicks to the head of a grounded opponent are illegal and result in fouls. The rule exists primarily for fighter safety, as grounded opponents are in vulnerable positions and head kicks can cause severe damage. Craig’s kick wasn’t intentionally illegal. It happened in the heat of the moment. But the rulebook doesn’t distinguish between intentional and accidental when determining legality.

(Image Credit: Brett Davis – Imagn Images)

Paul Craig

Rodolfo Bellato

UFC Atlanta

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!