Paul Craig Bids Emotional Farewell After UFC Paris Defeat
Scotland’s most decorated UFC fighter, Paul Craig, has officially brought his remarkable career to a close. The announcement was made after his defeat at UFC Paris, where he was stopped in dramatic fashion by Lithuanian-Briton Modestas Bukauskas.
At 37 years old, Craig entered the Accor Arena with the weight of both expectation and reflection on his shoulders. His fight ended late in the opening round, when a sharp elbow from Bukauskas caught him on the ground. The strike landed with just a single second left in the round, leaving Craig bloodied and dazed as doctors rushed in to attend to him.
In that moment, the Scottish veteran showed the ritual of retirement that fight fans know well. He removed his gloves, placed them at the center of the canvas, and with emotion in his voice, thanked the crowd for the memories. The Paris crowd responded with a thunderous ovation, a fitting tribute to a man who had given everything inside the octagon.
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Craig’s career has been nothing short of fascinating. Across 29 professional bouts, he secured 17 wins, with nine of those victories coming during his UFC tenure. What stands out most in his record is the fact that he never fought to a decision in victory; every win was achieved through submission or stoppage. That consistency turned him into a fan favorite, someone who could always be relied upon to deliver excitement.
His grappling was his trademark. Six times he won inside the UFC with his submissions, most notably his triangle choke—a move that finished four of his opponents. That tally places him second in all-time light heavyweight submissions, behind only former champion Glover Teixeira. Among his most celebrated wins were victories against the current champion Magomed Ankalaev and former belt holder Jamahal Hill, both secured at moments when Craig was counted out but managed to pull off something spectacular.
Of course, his career was not without challenges. After a strong five-fight winning streak between 2019 and 2022, Craig hit a difficult run, earning only one win in his last eight bouts. He even attempted a drop to middleweight in search of a resurgence, briefly reviving hope with a stoppage win over André Muniz in 2023. But momentum never quite returned, and this final defeat signaled that his time at the highest level had passed.
Still, his legacy remains intact. Known for his signature blue-and-white face paint, his relentless grappling, and his never-say-die spirit, Paul Craig’s story has been one of perseverance and entertainment. As he himself said in his farewell, “This sport, the young eat the old, and I’m old.”
With that, Scotland’s most successful UFC fighter leaves behind a legacy of grit, drama, and unforgettable moments inside the octagon. His gloves may be left in Paris, but his impact on MMA will be carried forward wherever fans recall the name Paul Craig.
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