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PAUL CRAIG, a humble former Clyde Valley High School teacher, never set out to be a legend of UK mixed martial arts.
But that’s how the Scotsman leaves the sport following his emotional and tear-jerking retirement last weekend.
Scotland’s Paul Craig announced his retirement from mixed martial arts last week[/caption]
‘The Bearjew’ called time on his career after a first-round TKO loss to Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Paris[/caption]
Craig, 37, has called time on his rollercoaster ride of a career at the right time[/caption]
‘The Bearjew’ placed his gloves on the octagon canvas just moments after his first-round TKO loss to fellow Brit Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Paris.
It was a passing of the torch moment, which was symbolised by the embrace the pair shared in the immediate aftermath of the stoppage.
Craig, 37, was overcome with emotion as he bid a fond farewell after nearly ten years fighting at the highest level.
And who can blame him? He did, after all, have one hell of a rollercoaster ride in the promotion, which he got off at the right time.
Twenty-one fights, nine wins, eight ‘Performance of the Night’ bonuses – the third most in UFC history – and six submissions are just some of the stats Craig leaves the UFC with.
The Airdrie assassin also exits the promotion as the owner of the most triangle choke wins in the promotion’s near 32-year history.
Craig’s strength of schedule was anything but easy – he took on all comers at middle and light-heavyweight.
Title contention in either weight class and UFC gold ultimately eluded Craig, who, at his peak, was ranked No.7 in the world at 205lbs
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Paul Craig pulled off an incredible last-second win over current LHW champ Magomed Ankalaev back in 2017[/caption]
The Scot also has a win over former 205lbs champ Jamahal Hill on his resume[/caption]
But he can hold his head incredibly high as he’s had a career that up-and-coming mixed martial artists could only dream of having.
Craig gave us some truly unforgettable moments which will live long in the memory of UK MMA fight fans – and indeed many others around the world.
Who can forget his mili-second buzzer-beater submission of current light-heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev at UFC London in March 2018?
Or his brutal dislocation of former champ Jamahal Hill’s right arm at UFC 263 in June 2021.
He also claimed the scalp of Hall of Famer Maurico ‘Shogun’ Rua, although he often plays down the significance of the win.
I have somewhat of a sentimental attachment to Craig, as my own journey covering this sport professionally commenced just before he made his octagon bow.
And from my countless interactions with him on the phone, in person and – as became common practice post-pandemic – on Zoom, I can safely say he is the nice guy he comes across on TV and then some.
He always made time whenever I pestered him for an interview and would make a conscious effort to ask about my family.
It wasn’t contrived or quote-on-quote small talk; he genuinely took an interest and cared about my life updates.
In this sport, the young eat the old, and I’m old.”
Paul Craig
He’ll go down as a legend of UK mixed martial arts and a pioneer of Scottish MMA[/caption]
Perhaps one of the biggest testaments to his character came after his potentially contract-saving win over Andre Muniz at UFC London in July 2023.
Still in the grips of the euphoria of potentially saving his UFC bacon, he used his precious little time on the microphone to pay tribute to the late Tom Heffernan, who was a stalwart of Scottish mixed martial arts with his coverage of the sport.
Craig had an incredible knack for producing “Holy s**t” moments when his back was against the wall and his career was on the line.
His wins over Ankalaev and Muniz – which both came on the back of consecutive losses – are a testament to that fact.
It’s those moments – not his shortcomings and recent skid – UK fight fans will think about in the years to come when Craig’s name is mentioned.
As will the intensity and Scottish pride he brought to each and every one of his pre-fight face-offs.
And pride is something Craig can have in spades when he sits back and reflects on his time as a mixed martial artist and a UFC fighter.
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