UFC Vegas 106: Rodolfo Bellato vs Paul Craig Head to Head Comparison, Tale of the Tape and More!

UFC Vegas 106: Paul Craig vs Rodolfo Bellato Head To Head Comparison And Tale Of The Tape!

Get to know the head to head comparison, MMA journeys and records of Rodolfo Bellato vs Paul Craig at UFC Vegas 106!

UFC Vegas 106: Rodolfo Bellato vs Paul Craig Head to Head Comparison, Tale of the Tape and More!

UFC’s light heavyweight division gets a fresh matchup this weekend as Brazilian prospect Rodolfo Bellato takes on Scottish submission specialist Paul Craig. The clash at UFC Vegas 106 on May 17 brings together two fighters at different stages of their careers, both looking to climb the 205-pound ladder.

These two are set to square off in what could be a classic striker vs. grappler scenario at UFC Vegas 106 held at the Apex. Craig is known for pulling off last-minute submissions, while Bellato’s KO power has been putting opponents to sleep since his regional days in Brazil.

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Paul Craig’s MMA Journey

Paul Craig wasn’t always the submission wizard fans know today. The Scotsman started with zero martial arts experience before his coach turned him into an 8-0 amateur. His professional career began similarly impressive, going 8-0 over four years before catching the UFC’s attention. Craig even won the BAMMA World Light Heavyweight Championship along the way.

#OnThisDay in 2018: Paul Craig submitted Magomed Ankalaev in the FINAL SECOND at #UFCLondon 🤯

Watch in full on @UFCFightPass 📺 Get 35% off NOW! pic.twitter.com/fIZvCpz1SR
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 17, 2025

Since joining the UFC in 2016, Craig has become the king of comeback wins. His UFC debut earned him a Performance of the Night bonus when he submitted Luis Henrique da Silva. But his most mind-blowing victory came against Magomed Ankalaev, securing the latest submission in UFC three-round fight history at 4:59 of the final round. Craig’s UFC career has been a rollercoaster, with spectacular submission wins earning him a whopping eight Performance of the Night bonuses.

After a brief stint at middleweight where he went 1-3, Craig is returning to light heavyweight for this matchup with Bellato. His recent record isn’t pretty after losses to Caio Borralho and Bo Nickal, but fans can never count out ‘Bearjew’ when the fight hits the mat.

Paul Craig’s MMA Record:

Fights (27)	Win	Loss
By KO/TKO	4	5
By Submission	13	2
By Decision	0	2

*Paul Craig also has 1 draw in his MMA record.

Rodolfo Bellato’s MMA Journey

Unlike Craig, Rodolfo Bellato is still relatively new to the UFC spotlight. The 29-year-old Brazilian has been steadily building his name since his professional debut in 2017. Fighting out of Rio de Janeiro with KO Squad MMA, Bellato earned his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023 with a TKO victory over Murtaza Talha.

12 career wins! 11 finishes! 😤

Rodolfo Bellato is a force inside the Octagon! Catch him back in action this weekend at #UFCVegas106! pic.twitter.com/gGPPML6xZs
— UFC (@ufc) May 14, 2025

Bellato’s record stands at an impressive 12-2-1, with most of his wins coming by knockout or submission. His nickname ‘Trator’ (meaning “Tractor” in Portuguese) fits his fighting style perfectly. Bellato has serious power in his hands, having finished 7 of his 12 wins by KO/TKO. His UFC journey started with a bang, smashing Ihor Potieria by ground and pound in December 2023.

More recently, Bellato showed his durability in a back-and-forth majority draw against Jimmy Crute at UFC 312 in February 2025.

Rodolfo Bellato’s MMA Record

Fights (15)	Win	Loss
By KO/TKO	7	2
By Submission	4	0
By Decision	1	0

*He has a draw on his record as well.

Rodolfo Bellato vs Paul Craig: Tale of the Tape

Tale Of The Tape	Rodolfo Bellato	Paul Craig
Record	12-2-1	17-9-1
Height	6’3”	6’3”
Weight	205lbs	205lbs
Reach	77”	76”
Stance	Orthodox	Orthodox
D.O.B	Feb 05, 1996	Nov 27, 1987

The upcoming clash with Paul Craig represents Rodolfo Bellato’s biggest test yet. At 29 years old, the Brazilian has physical advantages over the 36-year-old Craig. However, Craig’s experience and submission prowess make this a fascinating matchup that could end at any moment, whether by Bellato’s power punches or one of Craig’s signature last-second submissions.

(Image Credit: UFC Europe- X)

Paul Craig

Rodolfo Bellato

UFC Vegas 106

Zaid Quraishi

mma

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!