Paul Craig

BearJew

Scotland

Falls to 1-5 in past six fights
Light HeavyweightUFC
November 16, 2024
Craig lost to Bo Nickal via unanimous decision (27-30, 27-30, 27-30) at UFC 309 on Saturday in New York City.
ANALYSIS
Craig more than held up his end of the bargain as a +750 underdog, remaining competitive the entire way in what was a 15-minute kickboxing match. He predictably struggled to generate any notable offense, but he was undoubtedly aided by the fact Nickal didn't attempt a single takedown. Craig's win condition at this stage of his career is almost always via submission, and he never got remotely close to one of them here given how this fight played out. Set to turn 37 years of age at the end of the month, Craig has now lost three in a row and five of his last six. He's been tasked with facing tough competition during that stretch, but you are what your record says you are in this sport, and Craig's recent record suggests he may be looking at a release.
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Draws Nickal at UFC 309
Light HeavyweightUFC
September 17, 2024
Craig will take on Bo Nickal in a middleweight matchup at UFC 309 on November 16, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
After losing four of five fights, Craig will essentially server as a gatekeeper for an undefeated prospect in Nickal, whose biggest strength is his wrestling. That won't bother Craig, who is plenty comfortable on the mat and more than capable of throwing up submissions from his back. In fact, several of Craig's signature wins have materialized in that exact manner. Nonetheless, the UFC wants to put its marketing machine behind Nickal and likely believes that Craig, at the age of 36, could be on his way out. The Scotsman will look to prove the company wrong.
Struggles continue in Rio
Light HeavyweightUFC
May 4, 2024
Craig lost to Caio Borralho via KO (punches) at 2:10 of Round 2 at UFC 301 on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
ANALYSIS
Outside of an immediate defeat, Craig literally could not have looked any worse. Paul was never much of a striker, even in his heyday, as he has just four career wins via knockout. Now 36 years of age, he had zero chance of competing with Borralho in a kickboxing match. Caio was wisely unwilling to go to the mat with Craig, forcing him to stand whenever Paul attempted to get the fight to the ground. Craig has victories over the likes of Jamahal Hill and Magomed Ankalaev in his UFC career, but he's never been any sort of legitimate contender while spending most of his career at light heavyweight. A loser of four of his last five and not the least bit competitive in the last three of them, Craig appears to be just about out of time.
Fighting Borralho
Light HeavyweightUFC
February 3, 2024
Craig will fight Caio Borralho at UFC 301 on May 4, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Craig's loss to Brendan Allen in his last fight put him at 1-3 across his last four bouts. Meanwhile, Borralho is trending in the opposite direction after winning his first five fights since joining the UFC in April 2022.
No-shows Vegas main event
Light HeavyweightUFC
November 18, 2023
Craig lost to Brendan Allen via submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:38 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Craig -- a long-time light heavyweight -- looked great in his middleweight debut against Andre Muniz in July, but predictably and quickly learned things wouldn't be so easy against an opponent in Allen that looks like a legitimate future title contender. Craig has pulled off countless miracle submissions over the course of his career, but he had zero answers for the physicality of Allen, who spent the vast majority of the fight in top position. All things considered, Craig was lucky to survive as long as he did. Paul will be 35 years of age in late November. Sure, the Muniz win looks great, as does his June 2021 knockout win over former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jamahal Hill, but the truth of the matter is that Craig has lost three of four dating back to July 2022 and is lightyears away from title contention in any division.
To have five-rounder against Allen
Light HeavyweightUFC
August 29, 2023
Craig will compete against Brendan Allen in a five-round middleweight bout at UFC Vegas 82 on Nov. 18, according to the UFC.
ANALYSIS
Craig will look to jump over Allen, No. 10, in the UFC's middleweight rankings by defeating the latter in a five-rounder in mid-November. Craig will look to create a new streak after defeating Andre Muniz via TKO in his last fight.