For some fighters, change is necessary. A new beginning in a new weight class, a new challenge, and an opportunity to reinvent themselves. But sometimes the change turns out to be a mistake. Initially, the decision to drop down a division appeared promising. A TKO victory over a highly ranked opponent appeared to have paid off. Then reality set in—three consecutive losses, each more convincing than the previous. A submission, knockout, and decision loss to a rising star. The experiment had failed. The only option left? Go back to where it all began. And this is precisely what Paul Craig is doing.

‘Bearjew’ has now been booked to fight Rodolfo Bellato in his return to the light heavyweight division at UFC Vegas 106 on May 17. The fight came together after Bellato’s planned opponent withdrew, leaving a vacancy that Craig was eager to fill, and without wasting a breath, Dana White agreed. Bellato, who remains undefeated in his brief UFC career, created an impression with a brutal comeback knockout in his debut, followed by a hard-fought draw against Jimmy Crute at UFC 312. He now confronts a seasoned veteran looking to restore his place among the division’s elite.

Paul Craig, however, is not just any veteran; he is the only man who has defeated Magomed Ankalaev. Back in 2018, Ankalaev was on the verge of a perfect UFC debut, dominating from start to finish. Then, in the final moments of the fight, ‘Bearjew’ did what he does best: grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat. With one second left on the clock, he locked in a triangle choke, forcing Ankalaev to tap. He was one second away from losing, and instead, he made history.

Now, Paul Craig has returned to the division where he earned his name, but the future is unknown. Is this the beginning of a revival or simply another chapter in a dying career? UFC Vegas 106 will provide fans with the major answer. However, this isn’t the only highly anticipated return that will take place at the event. So, is another fighter making his return? Not exactly. Instead, Dana White brought back a fight that had to be scrapped earlier.

Dana White brings back the fight that was once scrapped

In mixed martial arts, second chances are rare, but when they do occur, the anticipation only grows. A fight that seemed destined for obscurity has made its way back onto the UFC schedule, all thanks to Dana White. Originally scheduled for August 2024, an untimely illness prompted one of the fighters to withdraw, leaving fans with nothing but curiosity about what could have happened. At UFC Vegas 106, all of that speculation finally comes to a conclusion. This long-awaited fight between two submission artists is about to unfold, and if past performances are any indicator, it won’t be long before one man is locked in a choke he can’t escape.

Both fighters have the kind of grappling pedigree that turns a fight into a chess match—except in this case, a single miscalculation costs consciousness rather than a piece. Allan “Puro Osso” Nascimento has been on a roll, submitting Carlos Hernandez in the first round and demonstrating the aggressive, scramble-heavy style that makes Chute Boxe fighters so dangerous. Across from him, Jafel “Pastor” Filho arrives with a similar two-fight winning streak, having defeated Ode Osbourne with pinpoint accuracy.

Their first battle was meant to take place at UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs. Spivac 2, but now that both fighters are healthy and have momentum, the stakes are considerably higher. Dana White loves making a fight where the styles clash, but in this case, the styles mirror each other, like a clash between two grandmasters who refuse to settle for a draw. Both men push the tempo, hunt for submissions with ruthless intent, and have proven their ability to snatch a neck the moment an opponent hesitates. UFC Vegas 106 will determine not only who the stronger grappler is but also who commits the first error. So, will we get to see another classic like the aforementioned Paul Craig vs. Magomed Ankalaev fight? Let us know in the comments.

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