Fans turned up to UFC Vegas 106 expecting a fight between bruisers in the co-main event. Paul Craig‘s return to light heavyweight, against Brazil’s Rodolfo Bellato, had all the makings of a brutal back-and-forth battle. But as soon as the fighters were about to walk out, disaster struck. Craig’s bout was abruptly cancelled and replaced by a lightweight matchup between Sodiq Yusuff and Mairon Santos on extremely short notice. No injury footage. No evident backstage incident. Just confusion. So, why was it called off? Well, we finally have an answer, and it is as bizarre as they get.

After hours of disarray, the big reveal finally came that shocked many. The cause behind the fight cancellation was herpes. Yes, that’s herpes! The fight didn’t end because of a severe weight cut or twisted ankle, but because of a medical red flag that caught everyone by surprise. Initially, the UFC broadcast team kept things vague, citing an unnamed “medical issue.”

There was no additional information provided by either camp, leaving fans to guess. Given the high stakes for Craig and Bellato, both of whom were eager to recover from recent failures, many assumed it was something dramatic or strategic. A tough weight loss? A failed pre-fight medical? But then Bellato turned to Instagram and explained the cause himself in a story that quickly went viral.

“I never thought that herpes would take me out of a fight!” Bellato posted. “I’m sorry, all of you guys, but it’s something that’s out of our control. I’ll have more news soon!” His apology, despite being short, was really earnest. However, it equally left more questions than answers—was this a recently diagnosed case? A flare-up of a chronic condition? Was it visible that the commission intervened?

Bellato has not revealed these details yet, and the UFC remains silent. And his timing could not have been worse. He had just recently begun to get traction in the UFC, coming off a devastating second-round TKO victory over Ihor Potieria in December. That win, combined with his brutal performance on Dana White’s Contender Series, established him as a fighter to watch in the light heavyweight division.

But just when he was gaining momentum, he found himself at the center of one of the strangest pullouts in recent memory. Moreover, Rodolfo Bellato has had previous brushes with medical misfortune. Last year, he was sidelined for months due to a severe kidney infection that left him bleeding and in medical uncertainty. Doctors were unable to determine the cause for weeks, causing Bellato to halt his climb in a division that does not wait. So, what’s next for this dream fight? Will it be rebooked?

UFC officials help fans breathe a sigh of relief amidst Rodolfo Bellato’s pullout

For a while, it appeared that the Bellato-Craig fight would be lost in the archives of cursed matchups that never happened. However, the UFC acted quickly to calm the panic. Officials confirmed that the fight isn’t over; it’s just been delayed. The promotion is already looking for new dates, with May 31 and June 7 being suggested as frontrunners.

Whether it appears on a numbered card like UFC 316 or is placed on the UFC Fight Night: Blanchfield vs Barber card, one thing is certain: the UFC recognizes that this contest is too excellent to miss. There’s a reason fans were so disappointed by the last-minute cancellation. Both Bellato and Craig came in with a chip on their shoulder, hoping to erase recent stumbles.

While Rodolfo Bellato’s unexpected medical exit provided an unsettling twist, the UFC’s rapid effort to reschedule kept the excitement going. Now, it would be interesting to see when he finds his way back to clash with ‘Bearjew’. What do you think? Will he be returning anytime soon? Let us know in the comments.