UFC World Sounds Off Over Rodolfo Bellato’s Bizarre ‘Faked’ Knockout, Here Is What He Said in Response originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
In the UFC, fighters are constantly looking for any edge, including bending the rules to their advantage. From exaggerated reactions to fouls to strategic use of technicalities, some athletes have been accused of gaming the system to sway outcomes. While the sport prides itself on toughness and integrity, controversial moments have raised questions about whether competitors are prioritizing wins over fair play. Referees and officials face increasing pressure to discern genuine rule-breaking from tactical manipulation.
Over the weekend, one of the UFC Atlanta prelims ended in chaos when Rodolfo Bellato and Paul Craig’s light heavyweight bout was ruled a no-contest due to an illegal upkick.
The bizarre sequence saw UFC veteran Craig land an illegal strike while Bellato was grounded, leading to Bellato collapsing and the fight being halted. However, the aftermath ignited criticism, with fans and fighters accusing Bellato of exaggerating the impact to secure a win via Craig’s disqualification.
The controversy stemmed from Bellato’s reaction. After absorbing the upkick, he initially protested to referee Kevin MacDonald, only to suddenly slump to the canvas, appearing unconscious.
Watch a video of the sequence here:
RODOLFO BELLATO WAS OUT COLD AT THE END OF THE ROUND… WTF? #UFCAtlantapic.twitter.com/WqIY5YiSyD
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 15, 2025
Critics, including UFC fighters like Justin Gaethje, argued Bellato faked being knocked out to force a no-contest.
Biggest flop in mma history 😬
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) June 15, 2025
Bellato vehemently denied the accusations, taking to Instagram to explain his side. He claimed the kick caused immediate disorientation.
In his post’s caption, translated from Portuguese, Bellato said, “My whole body began to tingle, and my vision disappeared… I don’t remember anything after that.”
Paul Craig, meanwhile, graciously refused to condemn Bellato during the post-fight press conference.
The Scottish fighter acknowledged hitting Bellato with an illegal strike, and praised him for his toughness, saying, “I don’t want to think any fighter is looking for an easy way out in this sport. We’re all fighters. We’re all in the UFC, the pinnacle of our careers, and we’re looking to put on a performance.”
Some fans argued upkicks should always be legal, whether or not the recipient is grounded. Others criticized Bellato for faking an injury in order to win. The incident also reignited discussions about fighters exploiting the rules, with comparisons to soccer’s infamous flopping.
UFC fans gave their takes on the situation in an X post of the result from combat sports platform Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS on X):
“Legalize upkicks from the back to the head of grounded opponents.”
“Definitely Oscar worthy, because I’ve never seen someone protest into a sleep.”
“Shouldn’t that be legal since the rule change? He was standing on one leg and had one knee down when the kick hit.”
“They both need to be cut.”
“Bellato went to Aljamain Sterling school of acting.”
“Faked it to get a DQ win.”
Despite the backlash, Bellato insists his reaction was genuine, citing potential delayed concussion symptoms.
Dana White and the UFC have yet to comment on potential disciplinary action or a rematch. Whether Bellato’s actions in the cage were to get a DQ win or sincere, the incident has cemented its place as one of UFC’s strangest moments
Related: Fans and UFC Fighters Sound Off on Bizarre MMA Stoppage ‘Terribly Officiated’ (Video)
Related: Genius or Gimmick? UFC Champion’s Bizarre Blindfolded Training Confuses Fans (Video)
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
