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MMA Newsvia AgFight

Bellato Returns From Surgery for Vegas 121, Bryczek Eyes Vegas Move

Rodolfo Bellato returns at UFC Vegas 121 four months after emergency spinal surgery, while Robert Bryczek weighs a part time move to Las Vegas.

Illustration: a fighter's back as a doctor examines a spinal scar
Illustration by Open Scoring MMA. Generated art, not a photograph, and not a likeness of any real fighter.

The Brazilian light heavyweight underwent emergency spinal surgery four months ago, and according to Ag. Fight, he says he's fully recovered and ready to compete again. Bellato's optimism lines up with what the record shows. He hasn't fought since beating Luke Fernandez by first round knockout, stopping him with punches at 2:42 of round one. That result, along with the rest of his run, has him sitting at 1530 on our Elo rating, built from 18 professional fights, a number that reflects real power and a finishing instinct at 205 pounds. A clean surgical recovery matters here. Spinal procedures are no small thing for a fighter who makes his living grappling and absorbing punishment, and Bellato coming back inside four months says something about how his camp handled the rehab. If he looks anywhere near the version that finished Fernandez, he stays squarely in the light heavyweight conversation. Elsewhere, Robert Bryczek is dealing with a different kind of adjustment. He's still arriving fight week determined to make a statement. Bryczek has an Elo sitting at 1006 across 25 tracked bouts. That kind of setback can push a fighter to rethink his setup, and reports indicate Bryczek is now considering a part time move to Las Vegas. For a fighter still building his UFC resume, a change of scenery could be exactly what he needs coming off a rough outing.

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This story ran in the September 25, 2026 edition of the daily show.