What type of fighter is Paul Craig?

Born on November 27, 1987, in Airdrie, Scotland, Paul Craig is a Scottish mixed martial artist competing in the UFC middleweight division (185 lbs). Prior to joining the UFC, he won the BAMMA World Light Heavyweight Championship at BAMMA 23, where he submitted Marcin Lazarz. His scheduled title defense against Chris Fields was postponed due to the tragic death of João Carvalho, and Craig's ankle ligament injury thwarted subsequent rescheduling. Opting to sign with the UFC instead, he debuted on December 17, 2016, defeating Luis Henrique da Silva and earning a Performance of the Night bonus.

Aside from his MMA success, Craig is a skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, achieving gold in the Absolute category at the 2012 Scottish Grappling Challenge 4 and winning the 2015 British Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship. He attained black belt status in 2021 after defeating Jamahal Hill but faced a setback at Polaris 21 on September 24, 2022, succumbing to an ankle lock by Jed Hue in just 21 seconds.

As of now, Paul Craig holds a record of 17 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw (17-7-1) and currently holds the 13th spot in the UFC middleweight rankings.

Paul Craig Fighting Style

Paul Craig is primarily known for utilizing his background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) in his MMA matchups. He is a skilled BJJ practitioner who showcased his grappling expertise in his amateur and professional MMA career. Craig often seeks submissions on the ground and has secured 13 victories through his proficiency in submission holds. While Craig’s foundation is in BJJ, he has also developed a well-rounded mixed martial arts skill set, incorporating striking and wrestling into his fights.

Where was Paul Craig born?

Paul Craig was born in Airdrie, Scotland, on November 27, 1987. Before transitioning to MMA, Craig was involved in football, having played the sport and worked as a football coach. Prior to his MMA career, he served as a teacher for an educational charity. In addition, Craig, along with Scottish MMA fighters Chris Bungard and Ross Cooper, also hosts a podcast named "Leather'd."

How much does Paul Craig weigh?

Paul Craig currently weighs 185 lbs or 84 kg. He initially started off his journey in MMA by competing in the light heavyweight division, where the upper weight limit is 205 lbs. In 2023, Craig made a strategic move to the middleweight division. He made his middleweight debut on July 22, 2023, against André Muniz, which resulted in a ground-and-pound TKO victory in the second round.

Last Updated On May 1, 2024.