UFC 326: Luke Fernandez vs Rodolfo Bellato Preview & Prediction
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Light heavyweights open the UFC 326 prelims, with Contender Series standout, Luke Fernandez, slated to throw down with Brazilian veteran, Rodolfo Bellato.
Luke Fernandez vs Rodolfo Bellato facts
What time are Luke Fernandez and Rodolfo Bellato expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 326
What TV channel is UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised
Where can I stream UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 main card
Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira (Lightweight)
Caio Borralho vs Reinier de Ridder (Middleweight)
Rob Font vs Raul Rosas Jr. (Bantamweight)
Drew Dober vs Michael Johnson (Lightweight)
Gregory Rodrigues vs Brunno Ferreira (Middleweight)
UFC 326: Holloway vs Oliveira 2 prelims
Cody Garbrandt vs Xiao Long (Bantamweight)
Donte Johnson vs Cody Brundage (Middleweight)
Ricky Turcios vs Alberto Montes (Featherweight)
Cody Durden vs Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (Flyweight)
Su Mudaerji vs Jesus Santos Aguilar (Flyweight)
Rafael Tobias vs Diyar Nurgozhay (Light Heavyweight)
Lee Jeong-yeong vs Gaston Bolanos (Featherweight)
Luke Fernandez vs Rodolfo Bellato (Light Heavyweight)
Luke Fernandez: The former CFFC light heavyweight champion makes his debut after a 15 second KO victory on the Contender Series
Former CFFC 205 pound champion, Luke Fernandez (6-0), produced one of the more eye-catching performances on the most recent series of the Contender Series, decimating Rafael Pergentino with a 15 second KO to earn himself a UFC contract. A former collegiate wrestler, Fernandez turned professional after an undefeated amateur career and has continued his unbeaten streak into the pro ranks. In addition to a polished boxing game, the 30 year old American has demonstrated his credentials on the mat with grappling competition victories over UFC veterans like Eryk Anders and Phil Hawes to underline his well rounded skill set.
Rodolfo Bellato: Will "Trator" finally push his bizarre UFC record above 1-1-1, 1 NC?
Making his fifth walk to the Octagon on Saturday night, Rodolfo Bellato (12-3-1, 1 NC) has had one of the stranger UFC runs in recent memory, with each of his first four fights in the promotion ending in a different manner to produce a UFC record of 1-1-1, 1 NC. Graduating to the UFC via the Contender Series at the second time of asking, "Trator" obliterated Ihor Poteria in his debut before taking Jimmy Crute to a draw in his sophomore appearance. The Brazilian then shot himself in the foot by milking an upkick from Paul Craig that caused a fight he was winning to be declared a NC rather than a DQ victory, before suffering his first loss in the promotion via decision at the hands of Navajo Stirling.
Luke Fernandez vs Rodolfo Bellato prediction
Fernandez has the look of a solid prospect, but it’s difficult to put a great deal of stock in his win on the Contender Series. The American may have scored a KO victory in less than half a minute, but there’s a solid argument to be made that flabby former heavyweight, Rafael Pergentino, was the worst fighter in Contender Series history.
On the other side of the cage, Bellato is not a particularly impressive light heavyweight, but he will still be the best fighter that Fernandez has ever faced by a considerable distance. His 1-1-1, 1 NC promotional run doesn’t make for pretty reading, but he’s only ever legitimately lost to top 205 pound prospect, Navajo Stirling, under the UFC banner; his only other losses have come at the hands of UFC heavyweight, Vitor Petrino, outside of the promotion. Bellato was arguably on his way to beating Paul Craig before he decided it would be easier to attempt to win by DQ and he also took a dangerous finisher in Jimmy Crute to a draw just over a year ago.
As such, considering that this will be just Fernandez's seventh professional fight, this smacks of "too much, too soon." He could well bomb the Brazilian out cold in the early goings, but the tentative pick is for Bellato to prove tough enough to weather the early storm, eventually turning the tide to either score a TKO over the flagging American or earn 29-28 scorecards.
Prediction: Rodolfo Bellato to win
