UFC Atlanta: Paul Craig involved in bizarre no contest as opponent accussed of faking KO amid 'illegal kick'
The fight was stopped in the first round but Rodolfo Bellato was hit with claims of hamming up his KO
Airdrie fighter Paul Craig was involved in a bizarre 'no contest' at UFC Atlanta last night after opponent Rodolfo Bellato was accused of faking a knockout from an illegal move in their light-heavyweight clash.
The 37-year-old delivered an illegal upkick to the Brazillian in round one, sending him to the floor and leaving him out cold for a few seconds.
Fans suggested the 29-year-old - who pulled out of the initial fight date last month with a cold sore - was faking it as he lay unconscious on the canvas.
Bellato was deemed unable to continue and the bout was ruled a 'No Contest'.
Craig, who had been on a three-foght losing streak, admitted he performed an illegal move and gave his opponent the benefit of teh doubt, following accusations of him 'hamming it up'.
He said: "A few people have messaged me regarding this and are saying that it looked a bit floppish - like he was maybe hamming it up.
"I don't want to think any fighter is looking for an easy way out in this sport. We're all fighters, we're all in the UFC - the pinnacle of our careers - and we're looking to put on performances. But I can see where people are looking at it and think it looks a bit floppish, like he's maybe taking a dive.
"I was looking over and I was seeing him kind of flop like he was trying to wrestle the referee and he was in a daze. But when I spoke to him, he seemed pretty compos mentis and he was like, 'I don't know what happened'.
"You know what, it's my fault as much as it is his fault. We shouldn't be looking to persecute him if he's taken the knee - it was an illegal move.
"But I've got to take positives from it. I felt good in there and I was moving well. I was landing my shots and my shot selection was perfect.
"But, in the heat of the moment, I thought he was standing up, so I throw my axe kick, looking to land a heavy upkick to his face."
There is no rest for Craig as he is set to embark on a 250-mile bike ride in London today.
He has jetted out from the US and is heading straight to Buckingham Palace to take part in the Help for Heroes Battlefield Bike Ride.
The route, from the palace in London to Rheine in Germany from June 16 to 21 is the path that World War II Allies took over five days, and marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Craig told Lanarkshirer Live Sport last week: 'We're straight into a charity bike ride. I was meant to have that on May 17, so that would give me enough time.
'Because the fight was moved, I have to do the fight and then the five-day bike ride.
'It's from Buckingham Palace to Germany, and it's the route that the soldiers from World War II would have taken.
'It was a great idea when I signed up for it and there was a month's buffer between the fight and this, but the last thing I want to do is pull out from this.
'I think it's a great opportunity, not only for me but to help a charity.'
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