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Paul Craig
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Paul Lindsey Craig[1] (born 27 November 1987) is a Scottish former mixed martial artist who competed in the Middleweight and Light heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional from 2013 to 2025, Craig formerly competed for BAMMA, where he was the BAMMA World Light Heavyweight Champion.
Key Information
Mixed martial arts career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Craig's head coach took him from no martial arts experience to 8–0 as an amateur, with each of his wins coming via first-round stoppage. As a professional, Craig went 8–0 over four years before being signed by the UFC.
In November 2014, Craig won a K1-rules fight in Germany.[5]
Craig won the BAMMA World Light heavyweight Championship at BAMMA 23 when he defeated Marcin Lazarz by submission.[6] He was set to defend his title against Chris Fields in Dublin, although the fight was postponed following the death of Portuguese fighter João Carvalho. The match up was rescheduled, but failed to take place due to Craig's damaging his ankle ligaments.[7] Craig did not end up defending the title, as he signed a 4-fight deal with the UFC.[8]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
[edit]Craig made his promotional debut against Luis Henrique da Silva on 17 December 2016, at UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson. He won the fight via submission in round 2[9] and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.[10]
Craig faced Tyson Pedro on 4 March 2017, at UFC 209.[11] He lost the bout via first-round TKO.[12]
Craig faced Khalil Rountree at UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio on 16 July 2017.[13] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[14]
Craig faced Magomed Ankalaev on 17 March 2018, at UFC Fight Night 127.[15] He won the fight via submission at 4:59 in Round 3, resulting in the latest submission finish in a 3-round fight in UFC history.[16] He was also awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.[17]
Following the win against Ankalaev, Craig signed a new, four-fight contract with UFC.[18]
Craig faced promotional newcomer Jimmy Crute on 2 December 2018, at UFC Fight Night 142.[19] He lost the fight via kimura in the third round.[20]
Craig faced promotional newcomer Kennedy Nzechukwu on 30 March 2019, at UFC on ESPN 2.[21] He won the fight via submission due to a triangle choke in the third round.[22] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[23]
Craig faced Alonzo Menifield on 29 June 2019, at UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos.[24] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[25]
Craig faced Vinicius Moreira on 21 September 2019, at UFC Fight Night 159.[26] He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[27] This win earn Craig his fourth Performance of the Night award.[28]
Craig stepped in on short notice to face Maurício Rua on 16 November 2019, at UFC Fight Night 164, replacing Sam Alvey, who had withdrawn from the bout due to a broken hand.[29][30] After three rounds, the back-and-forth fight was declared a split draw.[31]
Craig was expected to face Ryan Spann on 21 March 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards.[32] However, the event was cancelled.[33]
Craig faced Gadzhimurad Antigulov on 26 July 2020, at UFC on ESPN 14.[34] He won the fight via submission in round one.[35] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[36]
Craig faced Maurício Rua in a rematch on 21 November 2020, at UFC 255.[37] He won the fight via technical knockout in round two.[38]
Craig was scheduled to face Jamahal Hill on 20 March 2021, at UFC on ESPN 21.[39] However, on 10 March, Hill withdrew from the bout after testing positive for COVID-19.[40] The match was rescheduled for 12 June 2021, at UFC 263.[41] Craig won the bout via TKO in round one after snapping Hill's elbow with an armbar.[42] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[43]
Craig was scheduled to face Alexander Gustafsson on 4 September 2021, at UFC Fight Night 191.[44] However, a week before the event, Gustafsson withdrew due to injury.[45]
Craig faced Nikita Krylov on 19 March 2022, at UFC Fight Night 204.[46] He won the fight via a triangle choke in round one.[47] With this win, he received the Performance of the Night award.[48]
Craig faced Volkan Oezdemir on 23 July 2022, at UFC Fight Night 208.[49] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[50]
Craig faced Johnny Walker on 21 January 2023, at UFC 283.[51] He lost the fight via technical knockout in the first round.[52]
Move to Middleweight
[edit]Moving down to the middleweight division, Craig faced André Muniz on 22 July 2023, at UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura.[53] He won the fight via ground and pound TKO in the second round.[54] With this win, he received his eighth Performance of the Night bonus award.[55]
Craig faced Brendan Allen on 18 November 2023, at UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig.[56] He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round.[57]
Craig faced Caio Borralho on 4 May 2024, at UFC 301.[58] He lost the fight by knockout in the second round.[59]
Craig faced Bo Nickal on 16 November 2024, at UFC 309.[60] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[61]
Return to Light Heavyweight
[edit]Craig was scheduled to make his return to the light heavyweight division against former interim LFA Light Heavyweight Champion Rodolfo Bellato on 17 May 2025, at UFC Fight Night 256.[62] However, on the day of the event, it was announced that the bout was cancelled as a result of Bellato's medical issue relating to a herpes infection but the bout was rescheduled to 14 June 2025, at UFC on ESPN 69.[63][64][65] The bout was ruled a no-contest after Craig hit Bellato with an illegal upkick at the end of the first round.[66]
Craig faced Modestas Bukauskas on 6 September 2025 at UFC Fight Night 258.[67] He lost the fight by knockout via an elbow at the end of the first round and announced his retirement from mixed martial arts after the fight.[68]
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
[edit]Paul Craig is also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner who competes in the Absolute, Middleweight, Heavyweight and Super Heavyweight divisions.
Craig won the gold medal on the Absolute division at the Scottish Grappling Challenge 4 in No Gi in 2012.
He took part in the 2013 Scottish BJJ Nationals, taking 1st place in the Advanced 97.5 kg Division. Craig was also in the 2013 Scotia Cup Winter Leg, taking 1st place in both Purple Belt Super Heavyweight and Purple Belt Absolute Divisions.
Craig competed in the 2015 British Pro Jiu Jitsu Championship, taking 1st place in the Purple Belt 95+ kg Division and qualifying for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. He also took 3rd place in the Absolute Purple 75+ kg Division.[69]
In June 2016, he won his classe in Gi and No Gi at Empire Grappling.
After defeating Jamahal Hill in 2021, Craig was promoted to black belt.[4]
On 27 August 2022, Craig defeated Sam Sweeney in a tough, back and forth sub only grappling match at Holytown Havoc 2.
On 24 September 2022, Craig faced Jed Hue in the main event of Polaris 21. Craig was submitted with an ankle-lock in 21 seconds.[70]
Professional wrestling
[edit]Insane Championship Wrestling
[edit]Craig performs as a professional wrestler. During his career, he has worked for Insane Championship Wrestling where he is a one-time ICW Tag Team Champion with Chris Bungard.[71]
Personal life
[edit]Craig has two daughters, he worked at a factory to support his fighting career before becoming a full-time professional.[72]
Paul played football before becoming an MMA fighter. He also worked as a football coach before becoming a teacher for an educational charity.[73] Paul hosts a podcast called Leather'd, with fellow Scottish MMA fighter Ross Cooper.
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]Mixed martial arts
[edit]- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (Eight times) vs. Henrique da Silva, Magomed Ankalaev, Kennedy Nzechukwu, Vinicius Moreira, Gadzhimurad Antigulov, Jamahal Hill, Nikita Krylov, and André Muniz[10][17][23][28][36][43][48][55]
- Third most Performance of the Night bonuses in UFC history (8) (behind Charles Oliveira and Kevin Holland)
- Fifth most Post-Fight bonuses in UFC Light Heavyweight division history (7)[74]
- Second most submission wins in the UFC Light Heavyweight division history (6) (behind Glover Teixeira)[74]
- Most triangle-choke submission wins in UFC history (4)[75]
- Tied (Stephan Bonnar) for third most submission attempts in UFC Light Heavyweight division history (13)[74]
- Tied (Mauricio Rua, Anthony Smith & Nikita Krylov) for fifth most finishes in UFC Light Heavyweight division history (8)[74]
- Latest submission/finish in a three-round Light Heavyweight bout (4:59 in R3) (vs. Magomed Ankalaev)[76]
- UFC.com Awards
- 2018 Half-Year Awards: Best Submission of the 1HY[77] & Ranked #2 Submission of the Year[78] vs. Magomed Ankalaev
- 2019: Ranked #7 Submission of the Year vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu[79]
- 2022: Ranked #6 Submission of the Year vs. Nikita Krylov[80]
- Performance of the Night (Eight times) vs. Henrique da Silva, Magomed Ankalaev, Kennedy Nzechukwu, Vinicius Moreira, Gadzhimurad Antigulov, Jamahal Hill, Nikita Krylov, and André Muniz[10][17][23][28][36][43][48][55]
- BAMMA
- BAMMA World Light heavyweight Championship (One time)
- MMA Junkie
- 2019 March Submission of the Month vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu[81]
- Cageside Press
- 2018 Submission of the Year vs. Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Volkov[82]
- Jitsmagazine
- 2022 MMA Submission of the Year vs. Nikita Krylov at UFC on ESPN+ 62.[83]
Professional wrestling
[edit]- Insane Championship Wrestling
- ICW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Chris Bungard[71]
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]| 29 matches | 17 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 6 |
| By submission | 13 | 2 |
| By decision | 0 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 17–10–1 (1) | Modestas Bukauskas | KO (elbow) | UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho | 6 September 2025 | 1 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| NC | 17–9–1 (1) | Rodolfo Bellato | NC (illegal upkick) | UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley | 14 June 2025 | 1 | 4:59 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Return to Light Heavyweight. An accidental illegal upkick rendered Bellato unable to continue. |
| Loss | 17–9–1 | Bo Nickal | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 309 | 16 November 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | New York City, New York, United States | |
| Loss | 17–8–1 | Caio Borralho | KO (punches) | UFC 301 | 4 May 2024 | 2 | 2:10 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Loss | 17–7–1 | Brendan Allen | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig | 18 November 2023 | 3 | 0:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–6–1 | André Muniz | TKO (elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura | 22 July 2023 | 2 | 4:40 | London, England | Middleweight debut. Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 16–6–1 | Johnny Walker | TKO (punches) | UFC 283 | 21 January 2023 | 1 | 2:16 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Loss | 16–5–1 | Volkan Oezdemir | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall | 23 July 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 16–4–1 | Nikita Krylov | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall | 19 March 2022 | 1 | 3:57 | London, England | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 15–4–1 | Jamahal Hill | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC 263 | 12 June 2021 | 1 | 1:59 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 14–4–1 | Maurício Rua | TKO (submission to punches) | UFC 255 | 21 November 2020 | 2 | 3:36 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–4–1 | Gadzhimurad Antigulov | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till | 26 July 2020 | 1 | 2:06 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Performance of the Night. |
| Draw | 12–4–1 | Maurício Rua | Draw (split) | UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré | 16 November 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 12–4 | Vinicius Moreira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens | 21 September 2019 | 1 | 3:19 | Mexico City, Mexico | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 11–4 | Alonzo Menifield | KO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos | 29 June 2019 | 1 | 3:19 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 11–3 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje | 30 March 2019 | 3 | 4:20 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Nzechukwu was deducted one point in round 3 due to repeated eye pokes. Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 10–3 | Jimmy Crute | Submission (kimura) | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa | 2 December 2018 | 3 | 4:51 | Adelaide, Australia | |
| Win | 10–2 | Magomed Ankalaev | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Volkov | 17 March 2018 | 3 | 4:59 | London, England | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 9–2 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio | 16 July 2017 | 1 | 4:56 | Glasgow, Scotland | |
| Loss | 9–1 | Tyson Pedro | TKO (elbows) | UFC 209 | 4 March 2017 | 1 | 4:10 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Henrique da Silva | Submission (armbar) | UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson | 17 December 2016 | 2 | 1:59 | Sacramento, California, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 8–0 | Marcin Łazarz | Submission (triangle choke) | BAMMA 23 | 14 November 2015 | 1 | 3:51 | London, England | Won the BAMMA World Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–0 | Karl Moore | Submission (guillotine choke) | BAMMA 22 | 19 September 2015 | 2 | 0:48 | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Win | 6–0 | Adam Wright | Submission (armbar) | Animalistic MMA: Rise of the Alpha | 20 June 2015 | 1 | 0:47 | Preston, England | |
| Win | 5–0 | Andrzej Bachorz | Submission (brabo choke) | FightStar Championship 5 | 11 April 2015 | 1 | 2:37 | Coventry, England | Won the vacant FightStar Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–0 | Dan Konecke | TKO (punches) | First Fighting Championship: Resurgence | 13 September 2014 | 1 | 4:18 | Hamilton, Scotland | |
| Win | 3–0 | Jon Ferguson | Submission (triangle choke) | Full Contact Contender 10 | 21 June 2014 | 1 | 1:50 | Bolton, England | |
| Win | 2–0 | Antonio Braga | Submission (triangle choke) | Underdog Xtreme Championships 2 | 1 March 2014 | 1 | 2:41 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| Win | 1–0 | Brad Conway | Submission (triangle choke) | First Fighting Championship: Prepare for Glory 3 | 24 August 2013 | 1 | 2:00 | Hamilton, Scotland | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Amateur record breakdown | ||
| 3 matches | 3 wins | 0 losses |
| By submission | 3 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 3–0 | Jeff Metcalfe | Submission (guillotine choke) | Supremacy Fight Challenge 8 | 11 November 2012 | 1 | 0:46 | Gateshead, England | |
| Win | 2–0 | Paul Bradshaw | Submission (triangle choke) | Total Combat 50 | 6 October 2012 | 1 | 2:41 | Sunderland, England | |
| Win | 1–0 | Gary Sivills | Submission (armbar) | Total Combat 48 | 21 July 2012 | 1 | 1:26 | Sunderland, England |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b BoxRec. "Paul Craig".
- ^ "Paul Craig | UFC". UFC.com. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Paul Craig ("Bearjew") | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ^ a b BjjTribes (14 June 2021). "UFC Fighter Paul Craig promoted to BJJ black belt by coach Brian Gallacher". BjjTribes. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Paul Craig aiming for his first pro title in Coventry". 7 April 2015.
- ^ "Paul Craig: I knew I would win title when opponent smiled at me at weigh-in". Daily Record. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ "Why UFC 209's Paul Craig, who doesn't even really like MMA, fights for a living". mmajunkie. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- ^ "Paul Craig signs 4-fight deal with the UFC". Fights Day. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ Doyle, Dave (17 December 2016). "UFC on FOX 22 results: Paul Craig submits Luis Henrique da Silva". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
- ^ a b "UFC on Fox 22 Bonuses: Waterson, Craig, Smith, Aldana Pocket $50K". Sherdog. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ "Australian light-heavyweight Tyson Pedro to take on Paul Craig at UFC 209". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ Ben Fowlkes (4 March 2017). "UFC 209 results: Tyson Pedro puts Paul Craig away in first with vicious elbows". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ Tom Heffernan (21 April 2017). "UFC announce first three fights for Glasgow show as Paul Craig returns". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
- ^ "UFC Fight Night 113 results: Khalil Rountree thrashes Paul Craig for first-round KO". MMAjunkie. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
- ^ DNA, MMA (7 November 2017). "Ongeslagen Magomed Ankalaev maakt UFC debuut tijdens UFC Londen tegen Paul Craig". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Alexander K. Lee (17 March 2018). "UVideo: Paul Craig pulls off unbelievable last-second submission at UFC London". mmajunkie. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ a b Dan Hiergesell (17 March 2018). "UFC Fight Night 127 bonuses: Alexander Volkov's main event knockout leads $50K winners". mmamania.com. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ Shaun Al-Shatti (21 March 2018). "From retirement to re-upping: Paul Craig signs new four-fight deal after stunning UFC London comeback". mmafighting.com.
- ^ "Paul Craig vs Jim Crute Set For UFC Fight Night 142 In Australia". MMAnytt.com. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ Dave Doyle (December 2018). "UFC Adelaide results: Jim Crute submits Paul Craig in fight's closing seconds". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ Amy MacBeath (23 January 2019). "UPaul Craig: UFC Scot to fight Kennedy Nzechukwu in Philadelphia". bbc.com. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ^ "UFC Philadelphia: Paul Craig subs Kennedy Nzechukwu despite repeated eyepokes". MMA Junkie. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
- ^ a b Haynes, Stephie (30 March 2019). "UFC Philadelphia post-fight bonuses: Gaethje's massive KO nets FOTN honors". Bloody Elbow. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
- ^ Marcel Dorff (26 April 2019). "Undefeated Alonzo Menifield meets Scotsman Paul Craig during UFC Minneapolis" (in Dutch). mmadna.nl. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ Harshman, Heath (29 June 2019). "UFC Minneapolis Results: Alonzo Menifield Sleeps Paul Craig in the First Round". Cageside Press. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Sergio Pettis vs. Alex Perez, Two Other Contests Confirmed for UFC Mexico City on Sept. 21". Sherdog. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
- ^ "UFC on ESPN+ 17 play-by-play and live results". MMA Junkie. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
- ^ a b Fernando Quiles Jr (22 September 2019). "UFC Mexico City Bonuses & Attendance Revealed • MMA News". MMA News. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
- ^ Staff (27 October 2019). "Sam Alvey: Broken hand behind 'heartbreaking' withdrawal vs. 'Shogun' Rua at UFC on ESPN+ 22". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Guilherme Cruz (29 October 2019). "'Shogun' Rua vs. Paul Craig announced for UFC Sao Paulo". mmafighting.com.
- ^ Doherty, Dan (16 November 2019). "UFC Sao Paulo Results: Shogun Rua and Paul Craig Fight to a Draw". Cageside Press. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ Jay Anderson (19 December 2019). "UFC London Adds Paul Craig vs. Ryan Spann". cagesidepress.com.
- ^ O2, The. "Cancelled | UFC FIGHT NIGHT: Woodley vs. Edwards | The O2". www.theo2.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ DNA, MMA (2 July 2020). "Paul Craig treft Gadzhimurad Antigulov op 25 juli in Abu Dhabi". Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- ^ Fuentes, Jon (25 July 2020). "UFC Fight Island 3 Results: Paul Craig Beautifully Submits Gadzhimurad Antigulov". Cageside Press. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ a b Anderson, Jay (26 July 2020). "UFC Fight Island 3 Bonuses: Six Fighters Earn 50K Performance of the Night Awards". cagesidepress. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ Ariel Helwani (18 August 2020). "UFC books Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua-Paul Craig rematch for Nov. 21". ESPN.com. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ Doherty, Dan (21 November 2020). "UFC 255 Results: Paul Craig Stops Shogun Rua, Settles Score". Cageside Press. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ Nolan King (15 January 2021). "UFC adds Paul Craig vs. Jamahal Hill to March 20 lineup". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Farrah Hannoun (10 March 2021). "UFC on ESPN 21 co-main event scrapped after Jamahal Hill forced to withdraw from Paul Craig bout". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ Redactie (24 March 2021). "Multiple UFC fights announced, including Craig vs. Hill". mmadna.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ Vreeland, Daniel (12 June 2021). "UFC 263 Results: Paul Craig Destroys Jamahal Hill's Arm En Route to Victory". Cageside Press. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ a b "UFC 263 bonuses: That wicked arm injury Paul Craig delivered was worth an extra $50,000". MMA Junkie. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ Ashah Tafari (1 July 2021). "Alexander Gustafsson to face "Bearjew" in octagon return". Frontkick.online (in Swedish). Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Mike Bohn and Nolan King (21 August 2021). "Alexander Gustafsson out of UFC Fight Night 191 bout with Paul Craig due to injury". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ Staff (28 January 2022). "Paul Craig vs. Nikita Krylov set for UFC London card in March". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ Behunin, Alex (19 March 2022). "UFC London: Paul Craig Taps Nikita Krylov In The First Round". Cageside Press. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ a b "UFC Fight Night 204 bonuses: Nine fighters go home with $50,000". MMA Junkie. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ Lee, Alexander K. (12 May 2022). "Paul Craig vs. Volkan Oezdemir announced for UFC London". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ Law, Eddie (23 July 2022). "UFC London: Volkan Oezdemir Stalls Craig's Ground Game, Takes Decision". Cageside Press. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ Harkness, Ryan (9 October 2022). "Johnny Walker vs. Paul Craig scrap set for UFC 283 in Brazil". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ Dylan Rush (21 January 2023). "UFC 283: Johnny Walker stops Paul Craig, breaks out the worm". Cageside Press. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ Calhoun, Curtis (15 May 2023). "Paul Craig set for UFC Middleweight debut against ranked contender". MMA News. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ Morehouse, Cade (22 July 2023). "UFC London: Paul Craig Finds Smashing Success in Middleweight Debut Against Andre Muniz". Cageside Press. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ a b Matthew Wells (22 July 2023). "UFC Fight Night 224 bonuses: Tom Aspinall earns $50,000 in triumphant return from injury". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ Staff (29 August 2023). "Brendan Allen vs. Paul Craig headlines UFC's Nov. 18 show in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ Dewar, Val (19 November 2023). "Brendan Allen Dominates UFC Vegas 82 Main Event, Submits Submission Specialist Paul Craig". Cageside Press. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Simon, Tyriece (22 January 2024). "UFC Schedule: Updated List Of Upcoming Events & Fight Cards". MMA News | UFC News, Results & Interviews. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ Dewar, Val (5 May 2024). "UFC 301: Caio Borralho Knocks Out Paul Craig in Biggest Career Win". Cageside Press. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ Marina Magomedova (11 September 2024). "Nickal to Fight Craig on November 17 at UFC 309". telecomasia.net. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ Brett Cagle (17 November 2024). "Crowd Lets Bo Nickal Hear It After Going Distance with Paul Craig at UFC 309". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ Harvey Leonard (19 March 2025). "Paul Craig Booked For Light Heavyweight Return At UFC Vegas 106 After Bo Nickal Loss". mmanews.com. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
- ^ Damon Martin (17 May 2025). "Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato scrapped at last minute from UFC Vegas 106". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ Alexander Behunin (18 May 2025). "Rodolfo Bellato reacts being pulled from UFC Vegas 106 co-main event - 'Never thought herpes would take me out'". mmamania.com. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ Guilherme Cruz (22 May 2025). "Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato rescheduled for UFC Atlanta after herpes scrapped previous fight". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ Matt Erickson (14 June 2025). "UFC on ESPN 69 video: Illegal Paul Craig upkick turns Rodolfo Bellato fight to no contest". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ^ Staff (7 July 2025). "Paul Craig vs. Modestas Bukauskas added to UFC Paris lineup". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ Eddie Law (6 September 2025). "Modestas Bukauskas Scores Last Second R1 KO, Craig Retires". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ "2015 British Pro Jiu Jitsu Championship Results". BJJ Latest. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ "Polaris 21 Full Results and Review". 25 September 2022.
- ^ a b "ICW Results: Get the F Out – Glasgow, Scotland (5/14)". 14 May 2023.
- ^ "Paul Craig on UFC, thoughts of factory life, and being the 'best damn dad' he can be". The Independent. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ "Paul Craig". mmajunkie. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d UFC.com (25 January 2026). "UFC Stats - Light Heavyweight Division". ufc.com.
- ^ Mike Bohn (3 September 2024). "UFC Fight Night 242 pre-event facts: Ovince Saint Preux can inch closer to Jon Jones' records". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ UFC.com (25 January 2026). "UFC Stats - Light Heavyweight - Fight Stats". ufc.com.
- ^ Thomas Gerbasi (28 June 2018). "2018 Half-Year Awards - Part I". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- ^ Thomas Gerbasi (4 January 2019). "Top Submissions of 2018". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- ^ Gerbasi, Thomas (2 January 2020). "Ten Best – The Submissions of 2019". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- ^ Thomas Gerbasi; E. Spencer Kyte (21 December 2022). "The Submissions | 2022 UFC.com Awards". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- ^ "MMA Junkie's 'Submission of the Month' for March: Another last-minute choke". mmajunkie.com. 3 April 2019.
- ^ "MMA 2018 Year in Review: Submission of the Year". Cageside Press. 28 December 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ "The Jitsmagazine 2022 BJJ Awards". January 2023.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Paul Craig". Sherdog. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
External links
[edit]Paul Craig
View on GrokipediaEarly life and background
Childhood and education
Paul Craig was born on November 27, 1987, in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.[2] Growing up in a working-class family in the Craigneuk area of Airdrie, he was shaped by the town's industrial heritage and community spirit, which contributed to his early development of resilience and determination.[7] Details about his parents remain limited in public records, but his roots in this modest Scottish environment provided a foundation of toughness that influenced his later pursuits. As a youth, Craig was involved in football, playing for Hearts' youth team and aspiring to a professional career before shifting to coaching.[8] Craig received his early education at local schools in Airdrie, including Caldervale High School.[9] He later worked as a teacher at Clyde Valley High School, among others.[10] After completing secondary school, he attended New College Lanarkshire's specialist sports campus at Broadwood, where he completed HNC and HND qualifications in fitness, health, and exercise.[11] He subsequently pursued a teaching qualification, earning a Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS) from the Open University.[12] This educational path led Craig to a career as a physical education teacher, initially as a football coach and later with the educational charity SkillForce, where he helped young people develop vocational skills.[12] During these teaching years, he began exploring martial arts as a hobby to complement his fitness routine.Entry into martial arts and teaching career
Paul Craig, raised in Airdrie, Scotland, developed a foundation of resilience during his childhood that would later influence his pursuit of combat sports.[13] In his mid-20s, around 2011, Craig discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) through encouragement from friends, who persuaded him to join classes at a local gym as a hobby with no prior combat sports experience.[14][15] Within six months of starting BJJ, he entered his first competition and secured a submission victory, igniting his interest in grappling.[12] At the time, Craig was employed full-time as a physical education (PE) teacher at Clyde Valley High School in Airdrie, where he also coached students in sports, fostering discipline and teamwork skills that paralleled his emerging martial arts training.[15][10] He balanced this stable career with early MMA pursuits by training intensively after school hours, often starting sessions at dawn, while maintaining his teaching responsibilities until around 2016.[15][12] Craig's amateur MMA experiences began shortly after starting BJJ, where he remained undefeated, building confidence through local bouts in Scotland that honed his skills in wrestling, Muay Thai, and boxing alongside grappling.[12][15] Motivated by a deepening passion for the sport despite the security of his teaching income, he decided to turn professional in 2013, marking a pivotal shift toward dedicating himself fully to MMA.[15][3]Mixed martial arts career
Pre-UFC professional career
Paul Craig made his professional mixed martial arts debut on August 24, 2013, at First Fighting Championship 3 in Motherwell, Scotland, where he submitted Brad Conway via triangle choke in the first round.[4] Over the next two years, he competed in several regional promotions across the United Kingdom and Europe, including Underdog Xtreme Championships, Full Contact Contender, and FightStar Championship, amassing an undefeated record through decisive victories that showcased his grappling expertise.[4] Craig's fighting style, heavily influenced by his Brazilian jiu-jitsu background, emphasized submissions, with four of his first six wins coming via triangle choke, including first-round triumphs over Antonio Braga at Underdog Xtreme Championships 2 on March 1, 2014, and Jon Ferguson at Full Contact Contender 10 on June 21, 2014.[4] He also secured a technical knockout against Dan Konecke via punches at First Fighting Championship on September 13, 2014, demonstrating versatility beyond pure grappling.[4] In 2015, Craig earned submission wins against Andrzej Bachorz via brabo choke at FightStar Championship 5 on April 11 and Adam Wright via armbar at Animalistic MMA on June 20, further solidifying his reputation for ground dominance in the light heavyweight division.[4] Joining the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA) later that year, Craig submitted Karl Moore via guillotine choke in the second round at BAMMA 22 on September 19, 2015.[4] He then captured the BAMMA Light Heavyweight Championship at BAMMA 23: Night of Champions on November 14, 2015, defeating defending champion Marcin Lazarz via triangle choke submission at 3:51 of the first round.[6][4] Entering the Ultimate Fighting Championship with an unblemished 8-0 professional record—all but one by stoppage—Craig had established himself as a submission specialist in regional circuits.[4]UFC light heavyweight debut and early fights
Paul Craig made his UFC light heavyweight debut on December 17, 2016, at UFC on FOX 22: VanZant vs. Waterson in Sacramento, California, following an undefeated 8-0 professional record built primarily through submission victories in European promotions.[4] Facing fellow unbeaten prospect Henrique da Silva, the 6'3" Scottish fighter with a 76-inch reach quickly showcased his Brazilian jiu-jitsu expertise, grounding his opponent and securing an armbar submission at 1:59 of the second round. This dominant performance earned Craig the Performance of the Night bonus, marking a strong entry into the promotion and highlighting his advantages in grappling against taller light heavyweights.[16] Craig's next bout came at UFC 209 on March 4, 2017, against Australian wrestler Tyson Pedro, where his ground game was tested early. Pedro capitalized on a scramble to land ground-and-pound elbows, forcing a first-round TKO stoppage at 4:10 despite Craig's attempts to pull guard. Four months later, at UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio on July 16, 2017, in Glasgow, Scotland, Craig faced streaking knockout artist Khalil Rountree Jr. in front of a home crowd. Rountree overwhelmed him with striking volume, landing a clean right hand followed by punches for a first-round knockout at 4:56, exposing vulnerabilities in Craig's stand-up defense. Despite the setbacks, Craig rebounded emphatically in his fourth UFC appearance at UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Thompson on March 17, 2018, in London, England, against undefeated Russian prospect Magomed Ankalaev. Trailing on the scorecards after absorbing significant damage over three rounds, the resilient grappler latched onto a last-second triangle choke from the bottom at 4:59 of the third round, forcing the tap in one of the promotion's most dramatic finishes. This upset submission victory, achieved through superior jiu-jitsu positioning against a favored wrestler, earned another Performance of the Night award and reaffirmed Craig's reputation as a submission threat in the division. Craig continued his UFC tenure at light heavyweight with mixed results. On November 16, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré in São Paulo, Brazil, he fought UFC Hall of Famer Mauricio "Shogun" Rua to a split draw after three competitive rounds. In the rematch on November 21, 2020, at UFC 255 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Craig defeated Rua via TKO (doctor stoppage due to a cut) at the end of the second round, earning Fight of the Night honors. On June 12, 2021, at UFC 263 in Glendale, Arizona, Craig secured a first-round TKO (punches) over Jamahal Hill after dislocating Hill's arm in a triangle position, earning Performance of the Night. He followed with a third-round submission (arm-triangle choke) victory over Nikita Krylov on March 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall in London. However, on January 21, 2023, at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Craig lost to Johnny Walker via second-round TKO (punches).[4]Transition to middleweight and key bouts
In May 2023, Paul Craig announced his intention to drop from the light heavyweight division to middleweight, citing successful medical tests confirming he could safely cut to 185 pounds and a desire to revitalize his career after recent setbacks at 205 pounds.[17] The move was strategic, aiming for better size matchups in a division where his 6-foot-3 frame and 76-inch reach could provide an advantage against shorter opponents, while reducing the grueling weight cuts he had endured as one of the smaller light heavyweights.[18] This transition followed a strong run at light heavyweight, including a first-round TKO of Jamahal Hill (June 12, 2021) and a second-round TKO (doctor stoppage) of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in their rematch (November 21, 2020), following a split draw with Rua in 2019.[2] Craig made a strong impression in his middleweight debut on July 22, 2023, at UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura in London, where he faced submission specialist André Muniz. After a competitive first round, Craig capitalized on a grappling exchange in the second, transitioning to top position and unleashing ground-and-pound elbows that forced a referee stoppage at 4:40, earning him a Performance of the Night bonus.[19][20] The victory improved his overall record to 17-6-1 and marked his first win at 185 pounds, validating the division switch as he weighed in lighter but rehydrated to feel stronger on fight night compared to prior light heavyweight bouts.[21] Subsequent middleweight bouts presented significant challenges, testing Craig's adaptability in the faster-paced division. On November 18, 2023, in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig, he lost via submission (rear-naked choke) to rising contender Brendan Allen in the third round at 0:38 after being controlled on the ground for much of the fight. This defeat snapped his momentum but showcased his resilience, as he survived early pressure from Allen's wrestling. Craig faced another setback on May 4, 2024, at UFC 301 against Caio Borralho, where he was stopped by TKO (punches) in the second round following a knockdown. His final middleweight outing came on November 16, 2024, at UFC 309 versus undefeated wrestler Bo Nickal, resulting in a unanimous decision loss after being dominated on the mat, underscoring the division's depth and grappling elite. Despite the 1-3 record at 185 pounds, the experiment highlighted Craig's versatility and willingness to evolve, even as the weight class proved more punishing than anticipated due to its technical demands.[4]Return to light heavyweight and retirement
After a four-fight stint at middleweight that yielded one victory and three defeats, Paul Craig returned to the light heavyweight division in 2025, seeking to leverage his experience and grappling prowess in a more familiar weight class. His first bout back at 205 pounds came on June 14, 2025, against Rodolfo Bellato at UFC Fight Night in Atlanta, but the contest ended in a no contest after an accidental illegal upkick from Craig struck Bellato in the final seconds of the first round, rendering Bellato unable to continue. The unusual finish drew controversy, with some questioning whether Bellato had exaggerated the impact, though Craig later defended the outcome as legitimate and expressed frustration over the inconclusive result.[22][23] Craig's final appearance in the Octagon occurred on September 6, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 258 (also known as UFC Paris) against Modestas Bukauskas at the Accor Arena. The light heavyweight matchup saw Craig engage in a competitive opening round, trading strikes and attempting takedowns, but Bukauskas capitalized in the dying seconds with a devastating elbow from the top position at 4:59, securing a knockout victory. At 37 years old, Craig immediately announced his retirement in the cage, removing his gloves and placing them on the mat in a symbolic gesture.[24][25][4] In post-fight interviews, Craig reflected on the relief of ending his career, citing the cumulative physical and mental toll of 18 years in professional MMA, including multiple knockouts and the pressures of consistent weight cuts and training demands. He emphasized his desire to avoid returning as a diminished "MMA shadow," as he had observed in other veterans, and expressed gratitude for his accomplishments while prioritizing family and health moving forward. Craig's professional record concluded at 17-10-1 with one no contest, highlighted by his reputation as one of the division's most dangerous submission artists.[26][27][28]Brazilian jiu-jitsu career
Training and belt progression
Paul Craig began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2012 at the age of 24, initially through an MMA class at the Scottish Hit Squad gym in Scotland, where he was introduced to the art by local coaches.[13] This marked the start of his dedicated focus on grappling, which quickly became the foundation of his martial arts career despite his late entry into the discipline as an adult.[29] Under the guidance of Scottish coaches, including head instructor Brian Gallacher, Craig progressed steadily through the belt ranks, earning his blue belt within the first year of consistent training.[30] By 2015, he had advanced to purple belt, reflecting his rapid development through rigorous drilling and sparring sessions tailored to both gi and no-gi formats.[31] His training emphasized foundational techniques and positional control, honed at Scottish facilities like the Scottish Hit Squad before transitioning to Higher Level Martial Arts in Whitburn, where he continued under Gallacher's mentorship.[32] Craig's promotion to brown belt followed his purple belt phase, solidifying his expertise after years of immersive practice. In June 2021, shortly after his armbar submission victory over Jamahal Hill at UFC 263, Gallacher awarded him his black belt in a casual post-fight ceremony, recognizing Craig's technical proficiency and competitive application of jiu-jitsu principles.[30] This milestone came after approximately nine years of dedicated training, underscoring his commitment to the art amid a demanding MMA schedule.[33] Throughout his progression, Craig integrated Brazilian jiu-jitsu deeply into his MMA regimen, incorporating daily drills of key submissions such as armbars, arm triangles, and leg locks to enhance his ground game effectiveness.[14] This focus on grappling fundamentals not only elevated his personal skill set but also established jiu-jitsu as his primary weapon in mixed martial arts bouts.[2]Major competitions and achievements
Craig's competitive Brazilian jiu-jitsu career gained prominence during his colored belt progression, highlighted by his gold medal victory in the Absolute category at the 2012 Scottish Grappling Challenge 4. This achievement underscored his early dominance in no-gi grappling within Scotland's regional scene.[34] Building on this success, Craig captured first place in the purple belt 95+ kg division at the 2015 British Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship, demonstrating his technical prowess and adaptability in gi competitions against established practitioners.[31] As a purple belt, he also won the Abu Dhabi European Jiu-Jitsu Championship. He is a five-time Scottish BJJ champion and a five-time British BJJ champion. His performances in these events established him as a rising talent in the UK grappling community, with consistent podium finishes across national tournaments that reflected his dedication to the art beyond MMA applications.[2] After earning his black belt in June 2021 from coach Brian Gallacher following a UFC victory, Craig transitioned to elite-level submission grappling matches.[31] He competed at Polaris 21 in September 2022, where he was defeated by Jed Hue via ankle lock in just 21 seconds, marking a challenging test against a top-tier opponent. Later that year, in the main event of the ADCC Scotland Invitational 1, Craig faced ADCC champion Mariusz Domasat under 99 kg rules and lost by heel hook, yet the bout highlighted his resilience in professional no-gi formats.[34][35] Throughout his post-black belt phase, Craig secured multiple podium positions in European IBJJF-sanctioned events and UK national championships, solidifying his reputation as one of Scotland's premier grapplers. These accomplishments, combined with his submission expertise, have cemented his legacy in the sport. Following his MMA retirement in September 2025, Craig has indicated intentions to pursue further jiu-jitsu competitions, aiming to extend his competitive footprint in grappling.[3]Professional wrestling career
Debut and involvement with Insane Championship Wrestling
Paul Craig made his professional wrestling debut in November 2016 at Insane Championship Wrestling's (ICW) Fight Club event in Glasgow, Scotland, where he leveraged his rising status as a UFC fighter to create crossover appeal for the local promotion.[36] During the show, Craig, known for his aggressive style in mixed martial arts, intervened in a match by laying out The Wee Man and clashing with wrestler Davey Blaze, drawing significant crowd reactions from Scottish fans familiar with his UFC performances.[37] This appearance capitalized on Craig's MMA fame to boost attendance and excitement at ICW events, blending real fighting credentials with wrestling entertainment.[38] From 2016 to 2023, Craig maintained regular guest spots with ICW, often appearing as a special attraction to interfere in matches and enhance storylines involving submission-based confrontations. In April 2017 at ICW's BarraMania 3, he was targeted by another MMA crossover figure who delivered a low blow, further integrating his real-life toughness into the promotion's narratives.[39] These sporadic but consistent involvements allowed ICW to highlight Craig's grappling expertise, with him frequently applying armbars and other holds reminiscent of his Brazilian jiu-jitsu background during altercations. By 2023, his role expanded to include high-profile entries like the Square Go battle royal, where his surprise participation electrified the audience and solidified his status as a bridge between MMA and Scottish wrestling.[40] Throughout his ICW tenure, Craig adopted his established "Bearjew" persona from MMA, emphasizing brutal submission techniques to differentiate himself in the wrestling ring and appeal to fans who appreciated the authenticity of his fighting skills. This character focus on joint locks and ground control not only entertained but also showcased how his UFC experience translated to professional wrestling dynamics, making him a unique draw for the promotion without pursuing a full-time schedule.[37]Tag team success and championships
In early 2023, Paul Craig formed a tag team partnership with fellow MMA fighter Chris Bungard in Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), building on their prior interactions in the promotion, including a brief clash during Craig's surprise solo entry into the 11th Annual Square Go match in February.[41] The duo, managed by Rudo Lightning, quickly earned a title opportunity when ICW announcer Rudo revealed them as challengers to the reigning ICW Tag Team Champions KOE (Adam King and Marcus King) on April 13, 2023.[42] On May 14, 2023, at the Get The F Out event in Glasgow, Scotland, Craig and Bungard captured the ICW Tag Team Championships in a submission-only match against KOE, with Bungard forcing Marcus King to tap out to an armbar.[43] Their 91-day reign featured high-energy defenses that blended professional wrestling spectacle with authentic submission techniques, such as retaining the titles against The Manifesto (Eddie Castle and Grant McIvor) on June 18, 2023, at ICW Fight Club tapings by submission.[44] These matches emphasized rapid transitions between strikes, takedowns, and joint locks, drawing crowds with the novelty of UFC-caliber fighters adapting their ground game to the ring.[45] The championship run concluded on August 13, 2023, at Shug's Hoose Party 8, when the titles were vacated due to Craig and Bungard's absence from the event, as announced by Rudo Lightning following discussions with ICW management; a new championship match saw The Young Team (Logan Smith and Jimmy Pierce) defeat Arcade Violence to claim the belts.[46]Personal life
Family and relationships
Paul Craig is married to Cheryl Arbuckle, whom he proposed to in the ring after winning the Scottish light heavyweight title in 2013.[47][48] The couple has kept many details of their relationship private, though Craig has occasionally mentioned Arbuckle's support in interviews during his MMA career.[49] Craig is the father of two daughters, Millie, born around 2007, and Maia, born in 2015 and named after Brazilian UFC fighter Demian Maia.[50][47][51] To stay motivated during fights, he has a personal ritual of taping photographs of his daughters onto his gloves before entering the octagon.[52][47] Prior to his full-time commitment to MMA, Craig's role as a high school teacher in Scotland provided financial stability for his growing family.[15][12] His daughters have been involved in family celebrations following his victories, reflecting the close-knit support system that underpinned his professional journey.[53]Post-retirement activities and legacy
Following his final MMA bout, a first-round knockout loss to Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Paris on September 6, 2025, Paul Craig announced his retirement from the sport, confirming he had no intention of returning.[54] He cited the cumulative health impacts of a long career, including the risk of prolonged physical decline similar to that of Tony Ferguson, as a primary factor, alongside a shift in priorities toward family life.[3] In the wake of his retirement, Craig expressed plans to resume teaching in Airdrie schools, where he previously worked as a high school educator supporting at-risk youth through vocational and physical activities. He has highlighted the role's fulfillment in providing positive guidance, particularly for children from unstable backgrounds, as a meaningful next chapter.[12] Craig also intends to remain active in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, pursuing further competitions as a black belt while expanding his coaching efforts.[2] Post-retirement, he has returned to Higher Level Martial Arts in Airdrie to mentor young grapplers, focusing on youth programs to foster the next generation of Scottish talent.[55] Craig's legacy endures as Scotland's most accomplished UFC submission specialist, with six submission victories in 21 Octagon appearances that showcased his elite grappling prowess.[3] His achievements have inspired a surge in local MMA participation and talent development in Scotland, while his ventures into professional wrestling, including tag team success in Insane Championship Wrestling, demonstrated versatility and broadened combat sports appeal in the region.[56]Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts titles
Paul Craig captured the BAMMA Light Heavyweight Championship on November 14, 2015, at BAMMA 23: Night of Champions, defeating defending champion Marcin Lazarz via first-round triangle choke submission.[4] This victory marked his first professional MMA title and solidified his reputation as a submission specialist in the regional promotion.[57] Throughout his UFC tenure, Craig has earned multiple Performance of the Night bonuses, primarily for highlight-reel submissions that showcased his grappling prowess. Notable among these was his March 17, 2018, performance against Nikita Krylov at UFC Fight Night 127 in London, where a dramatic third-round triangle choke at 4:59 earned him the $50,000 award.[58] He secured another bonus for a first-round triangle choke submission over Gadzhimurad Antigulov at UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till on July 26, 2020, in Abu Dhabi, extending his streak of UFC finishes by submission.[59] Craig's armbar attempt against Jamahal Hill at UFC 263 on June 12, 2021, in Glendale, Arizona, resulted in a first-round TKO after dislocating Hill's elbow, again netting a Performance of the Night honor.[60] His reliance on chokes and joint locks from the bottom position has consistently highlighted his ability to turn defensive scenarios into decisive victories, contributing to eight such UFC bonuses overall.Brazilian jiu-jitsu accolades
Paul Craig has achieved several notable accolades in Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions throughout his career.[2]- Gold medal in the Absolute division at the 2012 Scottish Grappling Challenge 4 (No-Gi).[34]
- Abu Dhabi European World Champion in the purple belt division.[2]
- Five-time Scottish BJJ Champion.[2]
- Five-time British BJJ Champion.[2]
- Promoted to black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in June 2021 by coach Brian Gallagher following his UFC 263 performance.[33]
Professional wrestling honors
Paul Craig's transition from mixed martial arts to professional wrestling garnered recognition as a prominent crossover talent in Scottish promotions, leveraging his UFC profile to draw significant fan interest and acclaim within Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW).[61] A key honor came on May 14, 2023, when Craig partnered with Chris Bungard to defeat KOE (Adam King and Marcus King) in a submission match at ICW's Get The F Out event in Glasgow, Scotland, capturing the ICW Tag Team Championship.[61][45] They defended the title successfully against challengers including The Manifesto before it was vacated on August 13, 2023, marking a 91-day reign that underscored Craig's impact in tag team competition.[62] Craig also participated in the 11th Annual Square Go battle royal on February 26, 2023, at The Garage in Glasgow, entering as a surprise competitor in the 30-person match and further solidifying his reputation for blending MMA intensity with wrestling entertainment.[63][64] This appearance highlighted his role in elevating ICW's crossover appeal, with his entry generating widespread buzz among fans familiar with his combat sports background.[63]Career records
Mixed martial arts record
Paul Craig retired from professional mixed martial arts following his final bout in September 2025, concluding his career with an overall record of 17 wins, 10 losses, 1 draw, and 1 no contest.[4] Of his victories, 13 came by submission and 4 by TKO, with no decisions; his defeats consisted of 6 TKOs, 2 submissions, and 2 decisions.[4] Notable among his wins were submission victories over ranked contenders like Magomed Ankalaev, and a knockout victory over Jamahal Hill, underscoring his grappling prowess.[4] The following table details his complete professional fight record, listed in reverse chronological order (most recent first).| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Round | Time | Event | Date | Venue/Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 17-10-1 | Modestas Bukauskas | KO (Elbow) | 1 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night 258 - Imavov vs. Borralho | Sep 06, 2025 | Accor Arena, Paris, France |
| NC | 17-10-0 | Rodolfo Bellato | No Contest (Illegal Upkick) | 1 | 4:59 | UFC on ESPN 69 - Usman vs. Buckley | Jun 14, 2025 | State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
| Loss | 17-10-0 | Bo Nickal | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | UFC 309 - Jones vs. Miocic | Nov 16, 2024 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA |
| Loss | 17-9-0 | Caio Borralho | KO (Punches) | 2 | 2:10 | UFC 301 - Pantoja vs. Erceg | May 04, 2024 | Farmasi Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Loss | 17-8-0 | Brendan Allen | Submission (RNC) | 3 | 0:38 | UFC Fight Night 232 - Allen vs. Craig | Nov 18, 2023 | UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Win | 17-7-0 | Andre Muniz | TKO (Elbows) | 2 | 4:40 | UFC Fight Night 224 - Aspinall vs. Tybura | Jul 22, 2023 | O2 Arena, London, England |
| Loss | 16-7-0 | Johnny Walker | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:16 | UFC 283 - Teixeira vs. Hill | Jan 21, 2023 | Jeunesse Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Loss | 16-6-0 | Volkan Oezdemir | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night 208 - Blaydes vs. Aspinall | Jul 23, 2022 | O2 Arena, London, England |
| Win | 16-5-0 | Nikita Krylov | Submission (Triangle) | 1 | 3:57 | UFC Fight Night 204 - Volkov vs. Aspinall | Mar 19, 2022 | O2 Arena, London, England |
| Win | 15-5-0 | Jamahal Hill | TKO (Elbows and Punches) | 1 | 1:59 | UFC 263 - Adesanya vs. Vettori 2 | Jun 12, 2021 | Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona, USA |
| Win | 14-5-0 | Mauricio Rua | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 3:36 | UFC 255 - Figueiredo vs. Perez | Nov 21, 2020 | UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Win | 13-5-0 | Gadzhimurad Antigulov | Submission (Triangle) | 1 | 2:06 | UFC on ESPN 14 - Whittaker vs. Till | Jul 25, 2020 | Flash Forum, Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| Draw | 12-5-0 | Mauricio Rua | Draw (Split Decision) | 3 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night 164 - Blachowicz vs. Jacare | Nov 16, 2019 | Ibirapuera Arena, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Win | 12-5-0 | Vinicius Moreira | Submission (RNC) | 1 | 3:19 | UFC Fight Night 159 - Rodriguez vs. Stephens | Sep 21, 2019 | Arena CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Loss | 11-5-0 | Alonzo Menifield | KO (Punches) | 1 | 3:19 | UFC on ESPN 3 - Ngannou vs. Dos Santos | Jun 29, 2019 | Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA |
| Win | 11-4-0 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | Submission (Triangle) | 3 | 4:20 | UFC on ESPN 2 - Barboza vs. Gaethje | Mar 30, 2019 | Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| Loss | 10-4-0 | Jimmy Crute | Submission (Kimura) | 3 | 4:51 | UFC Fight Night 142 - Dos Santos vs. Tuivasa | Dec 01, 2018 | Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia |
| Win | 10-3-0 | Magomed Ankalaev | Submission (Triangle) | 3 | 4:59 | UFC Fight Night 127 - Werdum vs. Volkov | Mar 17, 2018 | The O2 Arena, London, England |
| Loss | 9-3-0 | Khalil Rountree | KO (Punches) | 1 | 4:56 | UFC Fight Night 113 - Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio | Jul 16, 2017 | SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland |
| Loss | 9-2-0 | Tyson Pedro | TKO (Elbows) | 1 | 4:10 | UFC 209 - Woodley vs. Thompson 2 | Mar 04, 2017 | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| Win | 9-1-0 | Henrique da Silva | Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 1:59 | UFC on Fox 22 - VanZant vs. Waterson | Dec 17, 2016 | Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California, USA |
| Win | 8-1-0 | Marcin Lazarz | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 3:51 | BAMMA 23 - Night of Champions | Nov 14, 2015 | Copper Box Arena, London, England |
| Win | 7-1-0 | Karl Moore | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 2 | 0:48 | BAMMA 22 - Duquesnoy vs. Loughnane | Sep 19, 2015 | 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland |
| Win | 6-1-0 | Adam Wright | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 0:47 | Animalistic MMA - Rise of the Alpha | Jun 20, 2015 | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Win | 5-1-0 | Andrzej Bachorz | Submission (Brabo Choke) | 1 | 2:37 | FSC 5 - FightStar Championship 5 | Apr 11, 2015 | Rzeszów, Poland |
| Win | 4-1-0 | Dan Konecke | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 4:18 | First Fighting Championship - Resurgence | Sep 13, 2014 | Paisley, Scotland |
| Win | 3-1-0 | Jon Ferguson | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 1:50 | FCC 10 - Full Contact Contender 10 | Jun 21, 2014 | Ballymena, Northern Ireland |
| Win | 2-1-0 | Antonio Braga | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 2:41 | UXC - Underdog Xtreme Championships 2 | Mar 01, 2014 | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Win | 1-1-0 | Brad Conway | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 2:00 | First Fighting Championship 3 | Aug 24, 2013 | Kilmarnock, Scotland |
Professional wrestling matches
Paul Craig made his professional wrestling debut in Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW) on November 19, 2016, at Fight Club, where he interfered in a match by attacking The Wee Man and engaging in a brawl with Davey Blaze.[36][37] This appearance marked the beginning of his sporadic crossover involvement in wrestling, often partnering with fellow MMA fighter Chris Bungard in tag team action. Craig has competed in several ICW events up to 2023, primarily in tag team and multi-man matches, achieving mostly victories via pins or submissions without a maintained formal record.[56][62] His notable wrestling matches are highlighted below, focusing on key ICW appearances:| Date | Event | Match Type | Opponents | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 19, 2016 | ICW Fight Club | Interference/Angle | The Wee Man & Davey Blaze | Interference; attacked opponents post-match. [36] [37] |
| May 22, 2021 | ICW Event (unspecified) | Singles Clash | Chris Bungard | Unsanctioned brawl in the ring. [65] |
| February 26, 2023 | ICW The 11th Annual Square Go | 30-Man Battle Royal (Square Go) | Multiple (29 others, including Aaron Echo, Ashton Smith) | Participated; eliminated before the final. [66] [63] |
| May 14, 2023 | ICW Get The F Out | Tag Team Championship Submission Match | KOE (Adam King & Marcus King) (c) | Win by submission with Chris Bungard; new ICW Tag Team Champions. [56] [43] [67] |
| June 18, 2023 | ICW Fight Club Tapings | Tag Team Championship Match | The Manifesto (Eddie Castle & Grant McIvor) | Win by pinfall with Chris Bungard; retained ICW Tag Team Championships. [68] [67] |

