Rodolfo Bellato has to be disappointed with how his UFC Atlanta fight ended. And he’ll feel even worse when he sees how the MMA community reacted to it.
Near the end of the opening round of his UFC Atlanta bout against Paul Craig, Bellato was struck by an illegal upkick that put him on his back and left him seemingly stunned. Referee Kevin McDonald did his best to sort out the chaotic situation, tending to Bellato for some time and eventually ruling the bout a no-contest due to an accidental foul.
It was a strange ending to a fight that had already been postponed due to Bellato being diagnosed with herpes the first time they were supposed to fight and the second time was not the charm for the light heavyweight fighters.
Making matters worse for Bellato, several fighters took to social media to question whether he was actually too hurt to continue, with UFC lightweight star Justin Gaethje calling his reaction the “biggest flop in MMA history.”
See more reactions from social media below.
Biggest flop in mma history
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) June 15, 2025
Bro gettin cut prob that’s gotta be the biggest flop ever in history of UFC. Bro glanced out side eye to the ref! https://t.co/PfFNVdbQtB
— Charles “InnerG” Johnson (@innerGmma_ufc) June 15, 2025
Then the “oh I’m still fighting?” Act?! Bro they never fight the ref that long, he flunked out of improv school for sure
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) June 15, 2025
Bro wtf!!! He fell looking to the referee lol and them was out
— Renato Moicano (@moicanoufc) June 15, 2025
Looked like it barely touched him
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) June 15, 2025
Yo wtf that illegal/legal up kick fuck him up bad that was scary the reaction he had
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) June 15, 2025
Wow thats insane
— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) June 15, 2025
What just happened?!?!?!? was that legal??? I couldn’t tell #UFCAtlanta
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) June 15, 2025