UFC Atlanta Ends Spring Schedule with Exciting Undercard

Live coverage of the show kicks off with the undercard at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT on the Disney-owned streaming platform before moving onto the main card at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT on the streamer. Barring any 11th-hour postponements, UFC Atlanta on Saturday features a full 13-fight card. The featured prelim features two fighters at light heavyweight who know a thing or two about 11th-hour postponements

UFC Atlanta Featured Prelim: Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato

At the top of the bill on the undercard this Saturday night is a rescheduling of a postponed fight from last month. Paul Craig (17-9-1 MMA, 9-9-1 UFC) will square off against Rodolfo Bellato (12-2-1 MMA, 1-0-1 UFC.) This UFC Atlanta featured prelim was scheduled to have taken place on May 17 from the UFC Apex in Enterprise, NV.

However, on the night of the show, the contest was postponed backstage after the latter contracted herpes. UFC officials rebooked the canceled fight for this Saturday in the aftermath of the postponement.

Paul Craig enters the rescheduled affair at UFC Atlanta having posted a record of 1-4 in his last five fights, but he’s hit a rough patch of late. Currently, he’s dropped three bouts in succession.

Last November, he sustained a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Bo Nickal (7-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) from Madison Square Garden during UFC 309. Craig has had close to 10 months in-between fights with the cancellation of the original pairing with Bellato.

Now that he’s been given three extra weeks to prepare, can Paul Craig get back in the win column at UFC Atlanta?

Meanwhile, Rodolfo Bellato will be making the walk for take two of this contest sporting a 4-0-1 record in his last five fights. A former LFA Light Heavyweight Champion, he saw his Feb. 8 fight against Jimmy Crute (12-4-2 MMA, 4-4-2 UFC) end level on the scorecards by majority decision after three rounds.

He’ll have had the shorter layoff ahead of the card on Saturday night. with only four months and one week between fights. With Bellato being afforded a clean bill of health, will his hot streak continue?

UFC Atlanta Co-Featured Prelim: Michael Chiesa vs. Court McGee

Immediately beforehand, the co-featured undercard bout happens in the welterweight division between two Ultimate Fighter alumni. Michael Chiesa (18-7 MMA, 13-7 UFC) locks horns with Court McGee (22-13 MMA, 11-12 UFC.) The former heads down to Atlanta having gone 2-3 in his last five fights.

Chiesa is a streaky fighter of late, winning two fights in a row in the aftermath of a three-fight skid. Last time out, he scored a third-round submission (rear-naked choke) over Max Griffin (20-11 MMA, 8-9 UFC). The win was his second consecutive victory inside the distance.

He’s a seasoned veteran of the sport, having competed professionally since Halloween weekend of 2010. Only time will tell if he’s getting his hand raised on Saturday night.

Across the way, Court McGee will head to State Farm Arena this weekend having posted a record of 2-3 in his last five fights. Last fall, he returned to the win column thanks to a first-round submission by way of neck crank versus Tim Means (33-17-1, 1 NC MMA, 15-14 UFC.)

McGee graduated to the UFC by way of the 2010 season of TUF. Saturday’s fight is his 36th career professional appearance and with both fighters having logged storied careers in the sport of MMA, this UFC Atlanta co-featured prelim is a treat for fans tuning in.

UFC Atlanta: Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Kris Moutinho

Also on the undercard, you’ll be seeing a bantamweight affair pitting two fighters at a crossroads in their respective professional careers as Malcolm Wellmaker (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) makes his second appearance in the promotion against Kris Moutinho (14-6 MMA, 0-2 UFC) to begin the latter’s second stint in the promotion.

Wellmaker has yet to lose as a professional in MMA heading into UFC Atlanta. Back in April of this year, his promotional debut was a smashing success, finishing Cameron Saaiman (9-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) with a first-round knockout by right hook in a minute and 26 seconds.

He’ll be faced with a quick turnaround this weekend. By the time the cage door slams shut on Saturday night, just 78 days will have elapsed between Wellmaker’s freshman and sophomore appearances.

How much in the way of a training camp has Malcolm Wellmaker been able to have with only two and a half months’ lead time?

In the other corner, Kris Moutinho will make his UFC return on Saturday night upon initially being cut from the promotion in the wake of a 2022 defeat to Guido Cannetti (10-8 MMA, 4-6 UFC). Since leaving the promotion over three years ago, Moutinho’s really turned things around.

Over the course of his last five bouts, he’s gone 5-0. Last fall, he emerged victorious from his contest vs. Johnny Campbell (22-17, 1 NC MMA) with a second-round TKO after the latter couldn’t continue in the fight.

It’s not often that people get a second chance, but this is just what Kris Moutinho has been afforded ahead of UFC Atlanta this coming weekend. This prelim will be a good test for Malcolm Wellmaker and could be among the night’s best clashes with two fighters on hot streaks.

Final Thoughts

Which prelim or prelims are you looking forward to on UFC Atlanta?