Paul Craig has told fans not to “persecute” Rodolfo Bellato after the pair’s UFC fight on Saturday ended in a controversial no contest due to an illegal upkick from Craig.

There was little question that the kick was illegal, but in the immediate aftermath it appeared that Bellato looked to referee Kevin MacDonald to see if he was going to call the foul – then hit the canvas and appeared to be knocked out, only to jolt back to consciousness, at which point he lightly tried to wrestle MacDonald.