Craig left his job as a teacher to turn professional and entered the UFC in 2016 after winning the first eight fights of his career.After one win and two defeats he was still unsure about his place in the sport, but this all changed after submitting Russian Magomed Ankalaev – the current UFC light-heavyweight champion – in 2018.”I believe from that day that I reassessed goals and wanted to become more than just a guy that steps into the octagon. I wanted to have a legacy,” said Craig.His legacy inside the octagon is that of a grappling specialist, with his six wins by submission being the second most in UFC light-heavyweight history behind Glover Teixeira’s seven.But it is the impact he has had back home which is most important to Craig.”When I first started this sport I was one of only three UFC fighters from Scotland,” said Craig.”Even now there have only ever been a handful of Scottish UFC fighters, but there has only ever been one that has made 21 walks in the UFC and that is me.”Putting Scotland on the map with MMA – for a long time we didn’t have representation and I have done that.”He is also proud of being a playable character in the UFC video game, and holding the record for the most triangle submissions in the promotion’s history, at four. “That kind of stuff is my legacy and it makes me proud to walk away from the sport where I have done something and I have been recognised,” added Craig.
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Paul Craig: Retired UFC star says leaving the sport is a ‘weight off my shoulders’
