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Light Heavyweight Sees Fight Postponed at 11th Hour By Sickness

Originally posted on MMA Sucka | By Hank Strandberg | Last updated May 20, 2025 12:01 AM ET

Rodolfo Bellato’s bout with Paul Craig was canceled because of a very bizarre and rare reason.

Surprising Illness Forces Rodolfo Bellato Off of UFC Vegas 106

Light heavyweights Bellato and Craig were expected to throw down in the co-main event of this past weekend’s show, UFC Vegas 106. Both men represented two different eras of the division, with their matchup being viewed as a possible passing of the torch moment. Craig is currently riding a three-fight losing streak, going 1-3 in his past four bouts since dropping to middleweight in 2023. Following this trio of setbacks, “Bearjew” made the decision to move back up to 205-lb.

Rodolfo Bellato, on the other hand, is coming off of a rip-roaring contest opposite a returning Jimmy Crute at UFC 312 back in February. Taking the scrappy Aussie the full three round distance, the Brazilian managed a majority draw against the once top 15-ranked light heavyweight contender.

Gearing up for a thrilling showdown with another divisional standout, Bellato entered his scrap with Craig a sizable favorite. Billed as the penultimate matchup of the evening, fight fans were eager to see if the streaking Brazilian could get the job done over the veteran Scot. However, partway into the main card, it was announced by the UFC that Rodolfo Bellato was abruptly forced out of the event due to an illness.

Our #UFCVegas106 co-main event has been cancelled due to a medical issue on the side of Rodolfo Bellato.

This fight will be rescheduled for a later date. pic.twitter.com/bumiLQq1IO

— UFC (@ufc) May 18, 2025

Rodolfo Bellato’s Fight Canceled Due to Herpes

Almost immediately, the mixed martial arts community began to wonder what could have happened to scratch such a promising light heavyweight bout. Fight day cancellations are nothing new for the sport; athletes can become sick due to weight cutting, food poisoning, or other unknown health problems. That’s what makes Rodolfo Bellato’s eviction from Vegas all the more bizarre, as he revealed on his Instagram (post courtesy of MMA Mania) that he had to drop out of the clash due to contracting a case of herpes.

The fizzled fight left a sour taste in viewers’ mouths, who were eager to witness two stellar 205-lb finishers compete in what had all the makings of a bona fide barn burner. Perhaps the most affected by the occasion was Craig, who was seeking to return to the win column after almost two years after a failed expedition to 185-lb.

This article first appeared on MMA Sucka and was syndicated with permission.

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