Paul Craig had a triumphant middleweight debut at UFC London, where he finished Andre Muniz with strikes from the mount position. Despite being ranked No. 9 in the UFC’s light heavyweight division, Craig feels right at home at 185 pounds. He expressed his desire to fight in the top 15 and prove himself as an MMA champion.
Craig debunked the notion that his jiu-jitsu skills weren’t up to par by emphasizing that MMA is different from pure grappling. He intends to stick around the middleweight division for now, while not completely ruling out light heavyweight. If he does move back up, it will be a more scientific approach with added mass.
As a middleweight, Craig seeks significant challenges and has his eyes on facing Bo Nickal, a highly-touted prospect in the 185-pound division. Craig believes Nickal’s style suits his game plan, and he’s confident in his ability to handle takedowns and capitalize on his guard skills.
Bo Nickal recently secured a quick TKO victory in his UFC career, and he’s been working towards his own title aspirations, potentially taking some time off from fighting after his recent performance at UFC 290.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about MMA middleweight debut
Q: What weight class did Paul Craig compete in at UFC London?
A: Paul Craig competed in the middleweight division at UFC London and made a triumphant debut in that weight class, finishing Andre Muniz with strikes from the mount position.
Q: How was Paul Craig performing in the light heavyweight division before moving to middleweight?
A: Before moving to middleweight, Paul Craig was ranked No. 9 in the UFC’s light heavyweight rankings and was doing well at 205 pounds.
Q: Why did Paul Craig decide to move down to the middleweight division?
A: Paul Craig wanted to test himself at a lower weight class to see if he could compete with the top 15 middleweight fighters. He aims to become an MMA champion and felt that the move was necessary to further his journey.
Q: What is Paul Craig’s approach to MMA compared to pure grappling?
A: Paul Craig emphasizes that MMA is different from pure grappling and believes in punishing opponents rather than engaging in a gentleman’s agreement on the ground. He showcased this approach in his fight against Andre Muniz.
Q: Who does Paul Craig want to face in the middleweight division?
A: Paul Craig is interested in facing Bo Nickal, a highly-touted prospect in the 185-pound division. He sees Nickal as a challenging opponent and believes his style plays into his game plan.
Q: Has Bo Nickal been successful in his UFC career so far?
A: Yes, Bo Nickal recently earned his first TKO victory in the UFC, stopping Val Woodburn in just 38 seconds at UFC 290. He has shown promise and hinted at taking some time off from fighting as he works towards his own title aspirations.
More about MMA middleweight debut
- Paul Craig’s middleweight debut at UFC London
- UFC’s light heavyweight rankings
- Bo Nickal’s TKO victory at UFC 290
- Bo Nickal’s potential time off from fighting
