Paul "Bearjew" Craig represents one of the most uniquely thrilling, defy-the-odds career arcs in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). For nearly a decade, the Scottish submission specialist walked an absolute tightrope in the Octagon, pulling off miraculous come-from-behind victories, snatching triumph from the jaws of defeat with his signature guard play, and establishing himself as a cult icon among mixed martial arts fans globally. However, if you are searching Google for the latest paul craig ufc fight card or typing in paul craig next fight, you might find yourself met with a bittersweet reality.
On September 6, 2025, inside the Accor Arena at UFC Paris, Paul Craig officially retired from professional mixed martial arts. Following a devastating first-round knockout loss to Modestas Bukauskas, the 37-year-old Coatbridge native laid his gloves down in the center of the cage, closing the book on an unforgettable 12-year professional journey.
In this comprehensive retrospective, we explore the final chapter of Paul Craig’s UFC career, analyze why he chose to hang up the gloves, look back at his legendary comebacks and signature wins, and detail what the future holds for Scotland’s beloved "Bearjew."
The Final Battle: Paul Craig's Farewell at UFC Paris
To understand the timing of Craig's retirement, one must look at the grueling road that led him to UFC Paris in late 2025. Fighting at the elite level of mixed martial arts is a young man's game, and at 37 years old, Craig had accumulated immense physical mileage. After a brief and highly-publicized stint at middleweight (185 pounds), Craig made the decision to return to his original home of light heavyweight (205 pounds) in mid-2025.
His return to 205 pounds was initially marked by a bizarre and chaotic outing against Rodolfo Bellato at UFC Atlanta (UFC on ESPN 69) in June 2025. In the final seconds of the first round, while defending from his back, Craig landed an upkick that knocked Bellato completely unconscious. However, replays quickly revealed that Bellato was technically a downed fighter at the time of the strike, making the upkick illegal. The bout was officially declared a No Contest (NC). Though Craig's roster spot was temporarily secured with a contract extension, the unsatisfying result left unfinished business.
Hoping to right the ship and prove he still belonged at the elite level, Craig signed on to face Modestas "The Baltic Gladiator" Bukauskas at UFC Paris on September 6, 2025. The matchup was billed as a classic veteran-versus-rising-contender clash. Craig, ever the optimist, spoke during media day of a potential "queue jump pass" back into the top 10, fueled by his historic win over top contender Magomed Ankalaev years prior.
Unfortunately, the fight did not go according to plan. Bukauskas kept the fight on the feet, denying Craig's attempts to pull guard or initiate grappling exchanges. Late in the first round, Bukauskas found his mark, landing a devastating elbow that sent Craig to the canvas, ending the fight via KO/TKO at the 5:00 mark of Round 1.
As the dust settled in the Accor Arena, a visibly emotional Craig stood beside Michael Bisping for the post-fight interview. With his gloves already off, Craig announced his retirement from the sport. He acknowledged that his body and mind were telling him it was time, stating that he could no longer compete with the speed and durability of the younger generation. It was a dignified, emotional end to a career defined by absolute fearlessness.
The Legend of the "Bearjew": Defining Moments in the Octagon
While Paul Craig's career ended on a tough skid—losing six of his final eight appearances—his legacy as an elite finisher is set in stone. Craig was never a fighter who cared about point fighting or grinding out boring split decisions. Out of his 17 professional victories, 13 came by way of submission and 4 by knockout. Remarkably, Craig never won a professional fight by decision. He was the ultimate "kill or be killed" combatant.
Let’s look back at the defining moments of his UFC tenure that will forever be played on promotional highlight reels:
The 1-Second Miracle: Paul Craig vs. Magomed Ankalaev (March 2018)
If there is one fight that encapsulates the sheer absurdity and magic of Paul Craig’s career, it is his promotional-saving win over Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Fight Night 127 in London. Going into the fight, Ankalaev was a highly-touted, undefeated prospect from Dagestan. For 14 minutes and 55 seconds, Ankalaev absolutely dominated Craig, landing brutal ground-and-pound and heavy strikes. Craig's face was battered, and he was staring down a third consecutive loss that would have likely resulted in his release from the UFC.
With literally seconds remaining on the clock, Ankalaev stepped into Craig's guard. In a flash of tactical genius, Craig locked in a triangle choke. With Ankalaev refusing to tap, Craig squeezed with everything he had left. At exactly 4:59 of the third round—with just one second left on the digital clock—Ankalaev tapped out. It remains the latest submission finish in a three-round fight in UFC history. It saved Craig’s career and handed Ankalaev the only loss of his professional career to date.
The Armbar Shockwave: Paul Craig vs. Jamahal Hill (June 2021)
At UFC 263, Craig was matched up against another undefeated rising star, Jamahal "Sweet Dreams" Hill (who would go on to win the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship). Hill was highly favored due to his devastating knockout power. However, Craig pulled guard early, displaying his world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He caught Hill in a deep armbar/triangle setup.
As Hill attempted to stack and escape, Craig locked in the submission, visibly dislocating Hill's elbow. Referee Al Guinee failed to notice the floppy, broken arm immediately, forcing Craig to transition to landing a barrage of punches and elbows with his free hand while still holding the armbar until the fight was finally waived off. The victory earned Craig a Performance of the Night bonus and cemented his status as the division's ultimate boogeyman.
Silencing the Legend: Paul Craig vs. Maurício "Shogun" Rua (November 2020)
After fighting to a controversial split draw in their first meeting in 2019, Craig left no doubt in the rematch at UFC 255. Craig systematically dismantled the former UFC champion and PRIDE legend, utilizing heavy ground-and-pound from the back mount to force Shogun to tap due to strikes in the second round. It was a passing-of-the-gatekeeper-torch moment and one of the biggest names on Craig’s resume.
The Nikita Krylov Guard Pull Masterclass (March 2022)
At UFC London, Craig once again proved that hurting him only makes him more dangerous. Nikita Krylov swarmed Craig early, landing heavy punches on the ground. Craig, comfortable in the chaos, calmly worked his guard, isolated Krylov's arm, and slipped his leg over the shoulder to lock in a tight triangle choke, forcing the tap in the first round. The O2 Arena exploded, showcasing just how beloved Craig was in the UK.
The Technical Paradox of Paul Craig’s Active Guard
In modern mixed martial arts, pulling guard (intentionally falling to one's back to invite a ground battle) is widely considered a tactical cardinal sin. Judges heavily penalize bottom position, and ground-and-pound can be devastating. However, Paul Craig weaponized this taboo.
Wrestlers and strikers alike assumed that being on top of Craig would guarantee a victory. Instead, they walked into a trap. Craig's active guard, characterized by aggressive hip movement, constant threat of sweeps, and elite submission setups, turned his back into a hunting ground. His squeeze was legendary; he had a physical build that was perfect for wrapping up opponents in a body-triangle or locking his long legs into a suffocating submission setup.
Craig was highly comfortable taking damage if it meant closing the distance. This style led to several "Fight of the Night" and "Performance of the Night" bonuses. In fact, Craig retired tied for 3rd all-time in UFC history for the most "Performance of the Night" bonuses, a testament to how consistently he thrilled audiences.
The Middleweight Experiment: A High-Stakes Weight Cut
By late 2022, after consecutive losses to Volkan Oezdemir and Johnny Walker, Craig realized he needed a change. Standing 6'4", he had always been a large light heavyweight, but he decided to undergo a grueling physical transformation to drop down to the middleweight division (185 pounds).
The experiment started in spectacular fashion. In July 2023, Craig made his middleweight debut in London against Andre Muniz, a highly-regarded BJJ black belt. Craig shocked the MMA world by putting on a striking and wrestling clinic, finishing Muniz with vicious ground-and-pound elbows in the second round.
However, the honeymoon period was short-lived. The UFC, recognizing Craig's star power, immediately threw him into the deep end against elite, athletic middleweights. He suffered three consecutive losses that exposed the limitations of his weight-drained frame and defensive striking:
- Brendan Allen (November 2023): Allen out-grappled the grappler, submitting Craig with a rear-naked choke in the third round.
- Caio Borralho (May 2024): Borralho used superior speed and technical kickboxing to knock Craig out in the second round at UFC 301.
- Bo Nickal (November 2024): The highly decorated collegiate wrestling champion Bo Nickal neutralized Craig's grappling completely, securing a comfortable unanimous decision victory at UFC 309.
These losses proved that while Craig had the skills to compete, the extreme weight cut to 185 pounds took away his durability and energy reserves. This prompted his eventual, final move back to 205 pounds, where he fought his final two bouts.
What's Next for Paul Craig? Life Beyond the Cage
With his fighting days behind him, Paul Craig is far from finished with the public eye. Unlike many fighters who struggle to find an identity after retirement, Craig is highly educated, charismatic, and has a wealth of career options.
Before finding success in professional mixed martial arts, Craig spent six years working as a high school teacher in Scotland, focusing on personal development. He has frequently expressed a passion for mentoring youth and could return to educational or community outreach roles.
Additionally, Craig is a world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Brian Gallacher. He is a multiple-time Scottish and British BJJ champion and will likely focus heavily on coaching at his home gym, Higher Level Martial Arts, or opening his own academy to train the next generation of Scottish martial artists.
We have also seen Craig transition seamlessly into media work. He has appeared on major podcasts, including The Ariel Helwani Show, and done promotional work for the UFC. His quick wit, Scottish charm, and analytical mind make him a natural candidate for color commentary or desk analyst roles in Europe.
Finally, Craig has dipped his toes into professional wrestling, making appearances for Scotland's Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW). Don't be surprised to see "Bearjew" make a transition into the squared circle, where his theatrical personality and athletic background can shine without the physical toll of real combat.
Paul Craig UFC Frequently Asked Questions
Did Paul Craig retire from the UFC?
Yes. Paul Craig officially announced his retirement from mixed martial arts on September 6, 2025, following a first-round knockout loss to Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Paris.
What is Paul Craig's final UFC record?
Paul Craig retired with a professional mixed martial arts record of 17 wins, 10 losses, 1 draw, and 1 No Contest (17-10-1, 1 NC). In the UFC specifically, his record stands at 9 wins, 10 losses, 1 draw, and 1 No Contest.
How many submission wins does Paul Craig have?
Throughout his professional career, Paul Craig secured 13 victories by submission, 4 by knockout, and 0 by decision. He is widely considered one of the most successful submission specialists in modern UFC history, particularly famous for his triangle choke.
Is there a Paul Craig next fight scheduled?
No. Because of his official retirement in September 2025, there is no next fight scheduled for Paul Craig. He has hung up his gloves and is transitioning into coaching, media work, and teaching.
Who has Paul Craig defeated in the UFC?
Paul Craig's notable UFC victories include wins over former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill, legendary former champion Maurício "Shogun" Rua, top light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev, Nikita Krylov, and Andre Muniz.
Conclusion
Paul "Bearjew" Craig was a beautiful anomaly in the modern era of the UFC. At a time when fighters became increasingly risk-averse, opting to play it safe and secure points on the judges' scorecards, Craig fought with an unyielding commitment to the finish. He lived by the sword and died by the sword. While fans looking up his next fight may feel a pang of disappointment to know his Octagon journey has concluded, his legacy as Scotland's premier submission wizard is forever secure. His jaw-dropping comebacks and historical submissions will continue to inspire and entertain MMA fans for generations to come.
