Former CFFC light heavyweight champion Luke Fernandez made his promotional debut with the UFC on Saturday, kicking off the UFC 326 card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Fernandez, who earned his UFC deal in just 15 seconds on the Contender Series last fall, was paired up with Rodolfo Bellato in the fight. The Brazilian was looking for his first win since 2023 after fighting to a draw against Jimmy Crute, seeing his fight against Paul Craig end in a No Contest, and losing to Navajo Stirling.
The fight started with an overhand to a knee to the body from Fernandez. A few times, Fernandez was landing that looping right hand. He wasn’t nervous at all, letting it go early. Bellato wasn’t moving his head and was eating that right hand and the jab over and over. Bellato was patient and, in an exchange, landed a short left hook on the chin. That dropped Fernandez, and Bellato swarmed with ground and pound until the ref stepped in.
Following the fight, a big win for Bellato, he noted his increased confidence having recently moved to American Top Team in Florida.
Official Result: Rodolfo Bellato def. Luke Fernandez via TKO (left hook and Ground n’ Pound), Round 1, 2:42
