Modestas Bukauskas Promises “Best Version Yet” Ahead of Rodolfo Bellato Clash at UFC Vegas 117

The UFC returns to the newly rebranded Meta Apex for UFC Vegas 117, with 'The Baltic Gladiator' Modestas Bukauskas set to face Rodolfo Bellato in a fight that could shake up the lower end of the light heavyweight rankings.

After putting together an impressive four-fight winning streak, capped by a victory over Paul Craig in September, Bukauskas’ momentum was halted at UFC 324. He was stopped in the third round following a sustained barrage of offence from Nikita Krylov.

In a phone call interview with Combat Evolved, Bukauskas spoke candidly about his mindset going into that fight, admitting he wasn’t fully present mentally:

“I’ve learned that I need to be fully focused on the task at hand,” he said. “I had a couple of personal issues leading into that fight that took me off focus. I trained hard, I gave it my best, but you’re not able to give it fully your best if you're not mentally all there.

“He (Nikita Krylov) went out to the mountains in Russia for three months to get away from everything… and I’ll put it this way, I wasn’t.”

Looking ahead to his upcoming fight, Bukauskas says his mentality has shifted significantly. Surrounded by a more positive environment, he believes it’s already showing in his performances in the gym.

“This camp has been all about getting back into a flow state, enjoying training again and being around all my good people. I felt like there was a dark cloud over my camp before the Krylov fight, whereas now I’ve never felt so positive.”

Bukauskas has been preparing alongside high-level training partners, including fellow light heavyweight Simeon Powell, who is currently in fight camp for his upcoming PFL bout.

He added: “This time I’m completely fresh, and this is going to be Modestas at his best. In flow state, ready to take it to this guy (Rodolfo Bellato).”

Bellato enters the fight with a 2-1-1 record in the UFC, with both of his wins coming via TKO against Ihor Potieria and Luke Fernandez.

Despite being a black belt in Brazillian jiu-jitsu and a Pan-American champion, Bellato is just as dangerous on the feet as he is on the ground, combining heavy striking with opportunistic grappling.

Bukauskas is well aware of the threat his opponent brings:

“He’s a pressure forward fighter, he likes to throw bombs. He’s obviously got heavy hands, as we saw in his last fight (vs Luke Fernandez). He’s also very durable, he can get caught but he's still in there battling back.”

He continued: “His jiu-jitsu prowess shows because when he’s in trouble, he’s able to sneak out and get back to winning ways. With a guy like that you have to take it to him, he wants to be pressured, and you have to just take it to him.”

Four wins in a row had pushed Bukauskas into the conversation for a potential ranking in the light heavyweight division. Now coming off a loss, he knows a statement performance is needed to break into the top 15.

“It has to be an impressive performance, it cannot just be a three-round decision, that wouldn’t warrant me getting a top 15 matchup. I have got to go in there, put all my skillsets on show and I feel like I’m in the best position to do that physically and mentally.”

For Bukauskas, the path is clear. Return to form, make a statement, and re-establish himself as a serious contender in the UFC’s light heavyweight division.