Rodolfo Bellato entered UFC Perth hoping to erase the noise of his controversial no-contest against Paul Craig. Instead, he left with something no fighter ever hopes for: a 1-1-1-1 record in the UFC. In front of a loud Perth crowd, undefeated prospect Navajo Stirling maintained his spotless record and gave Bellato a big defeat, adding another strange layer to the Brazilian’s journey inside the Octagon.

The light heavyweight contest began with Rodolfo Bellato trying to smother Stirling against the fence, but the Kiwi’s maintained his composure. Stirling shifted positions, delivered quick strikes, and finally turned the tide with a takedown in round two.

Amassing a rare record in the sport

Bellato did have moments with his jab and body movement, but he couldn’t maintain enough offense to sway the judges. Stirling won the unanimous decision after three rounds and moved to 8-0, while Bellato added a “loss” to a resume that already comprised a win, a draw, and no no-contest.

Rodolfo Bellato’s path to this odd scoreline has been anything but simple. He began his UFC career with a commanding TKO victory against Ihor Potieria, showing flashes of the finishing style that had carried him out of LFA. However, momentum slowed when his clash with Jimmy Crute resulted in a draw, followed by the Craig fight, which ended in chaos at 4:59 of the first round.

Now that Stirling has beaten him on the scorecards, Bellato finds himself in rare territory: a fighter with a record of 1-1-1-1, a sequence almost unheard of in UFC history. As for Stirling, the rising City Kickboxing prospect made the most of the opportunity. His clean boxing, measured kicks, and consistent pressure showed a well-rounded game despite his relative inexperience. “Ibo Aslan, I think you’re f—— dogs—. Let’s run it!” he yelled in his post-fight callout, reminding everyone that his undefeated record is backed up by a willingness to take on anyone.

Meanwhile, Bellato is facing a different type of hardship. His abilities and toughness are unquestionable, but results matter, and a record that reads like a misprint does him no favors in a stacked division. The next few fights will determine whether he can reverse the turnaround or if he will be defined by this odd stretch. But one thing we know for sure is that Stirling did manage to fulfill a part of the promise he made before the fight.

Stirling stops Rodolfo Bellato’s ‘acting’

Stirling vowed that UFC Perth would be different: no flopping, no controversy, just a real fight. And that is exactly what he delivered. He didn’t receive the knockout bonus he desired, but he delivered a clean, definitive performance that left little space for drama. Against Bellato, the story was not about protests or strikes; it was simply about proving he belonged.

The “acting” talk had followed Rodolfo Bellato since his no-contest against Paul Craig, when fans accused him of exaggerating an illegal strike. Stirling leaned into that aspect before the Perth fight, promising to expose him: “No more acting; this is going to be some real s—.” While the knockout did not arrive, the 24-year-old followed through on his vow by outworking Bellato everywhere.

His unanimous decision win extended his undefeated streak and put a stop to excuses. However, Stirling may have preferred a clean win over a highlight-reel ending. It solidified his reputation as a rising star, one who backs up his words with action. And, while Bellato may still deny ever “acting,” Stirling’s performance was the closest thing to a conclusion: no controversy, just domination.