UFC Atlanta combat week continues. Saturday, the ultimate occasion on the promotion’s spring schedule sees CEO Dana White’s promotion head to Georgia for the primary time since April of 2019 for the primary of solely two UFC Combat Night time occasions within the month of June.
Earlier than the summer season season begins, the promotion touches down in Atlanta for this week’s card. State Farm Enviornment serves because the host venue on Saturday night. Should you’re studying this piece from inside the USA, UFC Atlanta will probably be seen by way of ESPN+.
Stay protection of the present kicks off with the undercard at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT on the Disney-owned streaming platform earlier than transferring onto the principle card at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT on the streamer. Barring any Eleventh-hour postponements, UFC Atlanta on Saturday incorporates a full 13-fight card. The featured prelim options two fighters at gentle heavyweight who know a factor or two about Eleventh-hour postponements
UFC Atlanta Featured Prelim: Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato
On the prime of the invoice on the undercard this Saturday evening is a rescheduling of a postponed combat from final month. Paul Craig (17-9-1 MMA, 9-9-1 UFC) will sq. off in opposition to Rodolfo Bellato (12-2-1 MMA, 1-0-1 UFC.) This UFC Atlanta featured prelim was scheduled to have taken place on Might 17 from the UFC Apex in Enterprise, NV.
Nonetheless, on the evening of the present, the competition was postponed backstage after the latter contracted herpes. UFC officers rebooked the canceled combat for this Saturday within the aftermath of the postponement.
Our #UFCVegas106 co-main occasion has been cancelled on account of a medical subject on the facet of Rodolfo Bellato.
This combat will probably be rescheduled for a later date. pic.twitter.com/bumiLQq1IO
— UFC (@ufc) Might 18, 2025
Paul Craig enters the rescheduled affair at UFC Atlanta having posted a document of 1-4 in his final 5 fights, however he’s hit a tough patch of late. At the moment, he’s dropped three bouts in succession.
Final November, he sustained a unanimous choice defeat by the hands of Bo Nickal (7-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) from Madison Sq. Backyard throughout UFC 309. Craig has had near 10 months in-between fights with the cancellation of the unique pairing with Bellato.
Now that he’s been given three additional weeks to arrange, can Paul Craig get again within the win column at UFC Atlanta?
In the meantime, Rodolfo Bellato will probably be making the stroll for take two of this contest sporting a 4-0-1 document in his final 5 fights. A former LFA Mild Heavyweight Champion, he noticed his Feb. 8 combat in opposition to Jimmy Crute (12-4-2 MMA, 4-4-2 UFC) finish stage on the scorecards by majority choice after three rounds.
He’ll have had the shorter layoff forward of the cardboard on Saturday evening. with solely 4 months and one week between fights. With Bellato being afforded a clear invoice of well being, will his sizzling streak proceed?
UFC Atlanta Co-Featured Prelim: Michael Chiesa vs. Court docket McGee
Instantly beforehand, the co-featured undercard bout occurs within the welterweight division between two Final Fighter alumni. Michael Chiesa (18-7 MMA, 13-7 UFC) locks horns with Court docket McGee (22-13 MMA, 11-12 UFC.) The previous heads all the way down to Atlanta having gone 2-3 in his final 5 fights.
Chiesa is a streaky fighter of late, profitable two fights in a row within the aftermath of a three-fight skid. Final outing, 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 gap.
He’s a seasoned veteran of the game, having competed professionally since Halloween weekend of 2010. Solely time will inform if he’s getting his hand raised on Saturday evening.
Throughout the way in which, Court docket McGee will head to State Farm Enviornment this weekend having posted a document of 2-3 in his final 5 fights. Final fall, he returned to the win column due to a first-round submission by the use of neck crank versus Tim Means (33-17-1, 1 NC MMA, 15-14 UFC.)
McGee graduated to the UFC by the use of the 2010 season of TUF. Saturday’s combat is his thirty sixth profession skilled look and with each fighters having logged storied careers within the sport of MMA, this UFC Atlanta co-featured prelim is a deal with for followers tuning in.
UFC Atlanta: Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Kris Moutinho
Additionally on the undercard, you’ll be seeing a bantamweight affair pitting two fighters at a crossroads of their respective skilled careers as Malcolm Wellmaker (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) makes his second look within the promotion in opposition to Kris Moutinho (14-6 MMA, 0-2 UFC) to start the latter’s second stint within the promotion.
Wellmaker has but to lose as knowledgeable in MMA heading into UFC Atlanta. Again in April of this 12 months, his promotional debut was a smashing success, ending Cameron Saaiman (9-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) with a first-round knockout by proper hook in a minute and 26 seconds.
He’ll be confronted with a fast turnaround this weekend. By the point the cage door slams shut on Saturday evening, simply 78 days could have elapsed between Wellmaker’s freshman and sophomore appearances.
How a lot in the way in which of a coaching camp has Malcolm Wellmaker been in a position to have with solely two and a half months’ lead time?
Within the different nook, Kris Moutinho will make his UFC return on Saturday evening upon initially being lower from the promotion within the wake of a 2022 defeat to Guido Cannetti (10-8 MMA, 4-6 UFC). Since leaving the promotion over three years in the past, Moutinho’s actually turned issues round.
Over the course of his final 5 bouts, he’s gone 5-0. Final 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 proceed within the combat.
It’s not usually that folks get a second probability, however that is simply what Kris Moutinho has been afforded forward of UFC Atlanta this coming weekend. This prelim will probably be a great take a look at for Malcolm Wellmaker and might be among the many evening’s finest clashes with two fighters on sizzling streaks.
Closing Ideas
Which prelim or prelims are you wanting ahead to on UFC Atlanta? Tell us within the feedback.
