Growth Potential

Rodolfo Bellato sees a possible springboard in front of him.

The Dana White’s Contender Series graduate will attempt to resume his push toward relevance in the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight division when he takes on Paul Craig in the UFC Fight Night 256 co-headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. A former Legacy Fighting Alliance titleholder, Bellato has won four of his past five bouts. However, he has not competed since he settled for a majority draw with Jimmy Crute at UFC 312 in February.

“That fight was tough,” Bellato told Sherdog.com. “I learned a lot from it. The draw made sense. Every fight has its lessons, and I’m someone who enjoys learning. Jimmy is a cool guy, and we exchanged some ideas after the fight. I feel thankful for that war we had.”

In Craig, he faces someone on the other side of the experience spectrum. “Bearjew” has remained a fixture on the UFC roster for more than eight years, his resume anchored by wins over Mauricio Rua, Jamahal Hill, Nikita Krylov and current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev. All 17 of Craig’s career victories have resulted in finishes, 13 of them by submission.

“The UFC has no easy fights,” Bellato said. “He’s fought multiple tough opponents and scored several bonuses. He, of course, deserves all my respect. His game is somewhat limited, but he’s dangerous in those areas.”

Craig steps back into the spotlight in a bit of a tailspin. The onetime British Association of Mixed Martial Arts titleholder has suffered three consecutive defeats for the first time in his career. Craig, 37, last fought at UFC 309, where he dropped a unanimous decision to four-time NCAA All-American wrestler Bo Nickal on Nov. 16.

“My team and I have been able to analyze him,” Bellato said. “We saw multiple qualities and flaws during his fights. We have a great strategy to beat him without leaving any doubt. He’s super tough, but we have the perfect strategy to beat him.”

Bellato trains out of the Knockout Squad camp fronted by Rafael Cavalcante in Rio de Janeiro. He remains focused on short-term gains in a sport known for its long-term volatility.

“I plan to remain undefeated in the UFC,” Bellato said. “With a good win, hopefully I can get into the Top 15 this year.”