UFC Vegas 121: Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos continues on the prelims with a fight between Rodolfo Bellato and Christian Edwards in the light heavyweight division. Check out our UFC Vegas 121 odds series for our Bellato-Edwards prediction and pick.
Rodolfo Bellato (13-3-1, 1 NC) rebounded emphatically in March 2026, blasting out Luke Fernandez with first-round punches at UFC 326 in just 2:42. That win reversed a bizarre stretch that included a unanimous decision loss to Navajo Stirling and a no contest against Paul Craig after an illegal upkick, leaving his last five UFC results a strange 2-1-1 with 1 NC. Now the heavy-handed Brazilian looks to build on that momentum as he comes into his fight this weekend against Christian Edwards.
Christian Edwards (8-5, 0-1 UFC) dropped a razor-thin split decision to Modestas Bukauskas in his UFC debut this past May, despite stepping in on short notice and taking a heavy volume of significant strikes across three rounds. Before that step up in competition, he'd racked up back-to-back first-round TKO finishes over Jake Collier and Jarome Hatch on the regional circuit. Now looking for his first Octagon win, Edwards comes into his fight this weekend against Rodolfo Bellato.
UFC Vegas 121 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Vegas 121 Odds: Rodolfo Bellato-Christian Edwards Odds
Rodolfo Bellato: -180
Christian Edwards: +150
Over 1.5 rounds: -166
Under 1.5 rounds: +130
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Why Rodolfo Bellato Will Win
Rodolfo Bellato's biggest advantage is his sheer knockout power, showcased most recently when he blasted out Luke Fernandez with punches in just 2:42 at UFC 326. That kind of explosive finishing ability at light heavyweight makes him dangerous from the opening bell against any opponent, especially one still finding his footing in the Octagon.
Christian Edwards is coming off a UFC debut loss to Modestas Bukauskas, a razor-thin split decision that came on short notice, meaning he hasn't yet had a full, properly prepared training camp for a UFC-caliber opponent. Bellato, by contrast, gets a full camp here and has already proven he can compete with ranked competition inside the promotion.
Bellato also brings far more well-rounded output, with eight KO wins and four submissions across his career, giving him multiple avenues to victory compared to Edwards's more straightforward striking style. If the fight goes to the mat, Bellato's grappling background becomes a significant added threat.
Given his superior power, full camp preparation, and more diverse skill set, look for Bellato to pressure Edwards early and find a finish before the fight ever reaches the championship rounds.
Article Continues BelowWhy Christian Edwards Will Win
Christian Edwards brings a notable size and reach advantage into this fight, standing 6'5″ compared to Bellato's 6'3″, which could be crucial in controlling range against a fighter who thrives on getting inside with power shots. That kind of frame allows Edwards to jab and move, potentially neutralizing Bellato's aggression before it becomes dangerous.
Despite his UFC debut loss, Edwards actually competed closely with Modestas Bukauskas on short notice, a razor-thin split decision that showed he can hang with legitimate UFC-level competition even without a full camp. With a complete training camp this time, he has real room to improve and execute a smarter gameplan.
Bellato's recent form has also been genuinely erratic, going 2-1-1 with a no contest across his last five UFC bouts, including a decision loss to Navajo Stirling and a bizarre no contest against Paul Craig. That kind of inconsistency suggests Bellato can be out-worked or drawn into unfavorable exchanges when opponents stick to a disciplined plan.
If Edwards uses his length to keep this at distance and avoids Bellato's power early, his volume striking and improved preparation should be enough to steal a decision and pick up his first UFC win.
Final Rodolfo Bellato-Christian Edwards Prediction & Pick
This fight pits Rodolfo Bellato's explosive power against Christian Edwards's size and reach advantage. Bellato is coming off a highlight-reel first-round KO of Luke Fernandez, while Edwards is still searching for his first UFC win after a close split-decision loss on short notice.
Expect Edwards to try using his 6'5″ frame to control distance early, jabbing and moving to avoid Bellato's heavy hands. If Bellato can close that gap and get inside, his knockout power and grappling background give him multiple paths to finish the fight quickly.
Bellato's recent inconsistency, including a no contest and a decision loss, is a real factor, but his ceiling remains higher than Edwards's when he's dialed in. With a full camp now behind him, look for Bellato to press forward and find the finish.
Bellato gets back on track via first or second-round TKO, using pressure and power to overwhelm Edwards before he can settle into a rhythm.
Final Rodolfo Bellato-Christian Edwards Prediction & Pick: Rodolfo Bellato (-180), UNDER 1.5 Rounds (+130)