Rodolfo Bellato (left) and Paul Craig (right) after the end of the fight in UFC Atlanta. Photo: Reproduction/UFC
Present at controversial fight held in UFC Atlanta, Paul Craig opened up and talked about the situation he experienced with Rodolfo Bellato. Aware that many viewers accused the Brazilian of having staged the knockout, the veteran came to his rival's defense and declared that it is unlikely that a professional athlete would give up on a fight like that.
“A few people have messaged me about it and said it looked a little sloppy, like he was trying too hard. I don’t want to think that any fighter is looking for an easy way out in this sport. We’re all fighters. We’re all in the UFC, the peak of our careers, and we’re all looking to put on a good show,” Paul said at a post-fight press conference.
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Besides Paul Craig, Bellato also spoke out about the episode. Irritated by the criticism and fallacies of the fans, 'Trator' assured that he had not faked it and explained that he was actually stunned and disoriented after receiving an illegal pedal kick to his face. At the time of the fight, the Brazilian went after the referee, thinking that the authority was the Scottish one.
Rodolfo Bellato was knocked out by an illegal blow from Paul Craig (Photo: Instagram/UFC Espanol)
Ultimately, the fight was officially declared a 'no result' due to the referee's interpretation that Craig's blow was accidental. So far, the organization's representatives have not made any public statements about the matter.
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