This video can not be played
‘A weight off my shoulders’ – Paul Craig reflects on retirement
In a poignant moment following his defeat to Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Paris last week, Paul Craig’s request to his coach, Kieran Reed, to remove his gloves was met with a weighty question.
“Are you sure? You know what this means,” Reed inquired, acknowledging the finality of the gesture.
While the act of laying down gloves in the octagon traditionally signifies a fighter’s retirement, Craig revealed that this decision had been made 10 months prior, in November.
“It felt like a massive weight lifted off my shoulders,” Craig stated, expressing a sense of relief.
“The outpouring of support, including heartfelt messages, videos, and artwork, has been incredible. The comments have been overwhelming,” he added, deeply moved by the response.
“I knew I had a loyal fanbase, but witnessing their collective affection has been remarkable. I spent Sunday in tears, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of kind messages.”
The Scottish fighter originally planned to retire after his June bout, but the fight against Rodolfo Bellato was ruled a no-contest due to a controversial illegal up-kick.
Determined to conclude his career on either a victory or a defeat, Craig accepted the fight against Bukauskas.
Ortega ‘unconscious for 30 min’ in UFC weight cut
Scots legend Craig retires after knockout UFC loss
Craig, recognized as the most accomplished Scottish male competitor in UFC history with nine victories in 21 fights, attributed his decision to the mounting pressure of competing in the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization at the age of 37.
He entered the Bukauskas fight having secured only one win in his previous eight outings.
“The responsibilities extend beyond representing your gym, yourself, your country, and your family. There are significant demands related to weight management and training,” Craig explained.
“During fight camp, which spans 10 to 12 weeks, you sacrifice spending quality time with your family and must maintain 100% focus. I simply couldn’t sustain it any longer.”
“I didn’t want to do a disservice to myself and my team by representing a fighter who wasn’t fully committed to giving their all,” he added.
Craig transitioned from his career as a teacher to pursue professional fighting, joining the UFC in 2016 after an undefeated start of eight wins.
Following a mixed record of one win and two losses, his position in the sport was uncertain until his submission victory over Russian Magomed Ankalaev, the current UFC light-heavyweight champion, in 2018.
“From that day forward, I re-evaluated my goals and aspired to be more than just a participant in the octagon. I wanted to leave a legacy,” Craig declared.
His legacy inside the octagon is defined by his expertise in grappling, with his six submission victories ranking second in UFC light-heavyweight history, trailing only Glover Teixeira’s seven.
However, Craig emphasizes the profound impact he has had on the sport in his home country as his most significant achievement.
“When I first entered this sport, I was one of only three UFC fighters from Scotland,” Craig recounted.
“Even to this day, the number of Scottish UFC fighters remains relatively small, but I am the only one to have made 21 appearances in the UFC.”
“I have put Scotland on the map in the world of MMA. For a long time, we lacked representation, and I have changed that.”
He also takes pride in his inclusion as a playable character in the UFC video game franchise and his record of four triangle-choke submissions, the most in the promotion’s history.
“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.
Craig recalls his fight against former champion Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua in Sao Paulo, and defeating former title holder Jamahal Hill as his fondest memories in the sport.
Although Craig says his good times outweigh the regrets, he does have some, including switching gyms too late in his career, and moving to middleweight in 2023, which resulted in him developing an eating disorder.
Looking ahead, Craig anticipates no further UFC bouts but envisions competing in jiu-jitsu and returning to teaching.
“I believe I have much to offer young men who may lack positive role models, both in the gym and in the classroom,” Craig stated.
Most importantly, he expresses satisfaction in retiring on his own terms.
“I am leaving this sport with good experiences. Some people leave this sport and they have a sour taste within their mouth and it takes a wee bit from them,” said Craig.
“We have seen fighters who have received concussions, injuries that hampered their longevity in life. I am not one of them, so I am leaving this very high.”
MMA schedule and results 2025
Watch every Born to Brawl episode
Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
Comments can not be loaded
To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser