Tag: Paul Craig

Despite being pleased with his performance this past weekend, UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal does wish he did one thing differently against Paul Craig.

Nickal extended his undefeated record in the UFC and professional mixed martial arts as a whole at Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view, where he got the better of experienced veteran Paul Craig on the main card.

The formerly ranked light heavyweight and middleweight was expected to mark the toughest test of Nickal’s career to date owing to his renowned jiu-jitsu ability, but that ultimately didn’t rear its head on fight night.

Instead, the submission specialist and the decorated wrestler fought out three lackluster rounds on the feet, much to the dismay of the New York crowd in attendance.

But despite boos raining down on the Octagon following his unanimous decision win, Nickal has been firmly defending his display and expressing his joy at how he was able to emerge victorious from a striking battle.

However, the three-time NCAA Division I national champion and three-time Big Ten Conference champion out of Pennsylvania State University does have one regret, albeit a small one…

“I was winning the striking and I was happy to get experience in the cage doing something I’ve never done before,” Nickal wrote on X. “My only (small) regret is not being more aggressive in the 3rd round after I hurt him. I need to build a better system to attack when my opponent is hurt.”

Having added Craig’s name to a list of defeated UFC opponents that also includes Cody Brundage, Val Woodburn, and Jamie Pickett, Nickal has moved closer to breaking through into contention at 185 pounds.

But with his latest win leaving a lot to be desired in the eyes of some fans and pundits, it would appear that the 28-year-old still has some work to do before mixing it up with the division’s best.

• Read More: Paul Craig Saw ‘Progress’ In UFC 309 Loss To Bo Nickal: ‘Every Setback Is Just Setup For A Comeback’

UFC middleweight Paul Craig hasn’t lost confidence despite falling to another defeat this past weekend.

Craig marked the latest challenge for undefeated prospect Bo Nickal at Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view. The Scotsman joined the likes of Cody Brundage and Val Woodburn on the list of those unable to blemish the decorated wrestler’s MMA record.

The two grappling specialists remained standing throughout their three-round affair, with Nickal edging a striking-only contest that frustrated the crowd in attendance at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

For Craig, the result marked his third straight loss, leaves him 1-5 across his last six, and has pushed his middleweight record to a negative 1-4.

But although things may not have gone his way on fight night, “Bearjew” remains in good spirits and happy with the “progress” he felt was in display.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Paul Craig (@paulcraig)

“Saturday night didn’t go as I envisioned, but every setback is just a setup for a comeback,” Craig wrote. “Progress is happening, and my resilience is my fuel. Here’s to the relentless pursuit of greatness! #bearjew #bearjewjitsu#setbacks #comebacks”

Craig, a formerly ranked light heavyweight contender, initially made a strong start at 185 pounds when he knocked out Andre Muniz. But a main event loss to Brendan Allen and brutal knockout setback at the hands of Caio Borralho left him out of the top 15.

Having fallen short of having his hand raised again, “Bearjew” is in desperate need of a rebound result next time out. And judging by his post-fight statement, he’s evidently confident that he’s moved in a good direction toward achieving that.

• Read More: Mauricio Ruffy Names Another Desired Opponent After Saint Denis Callout At UFC 309

New Yorkers are unafraid to show their honest opinions, and that resulted in a harsh reaction toward Bo Nickal as he took a decision win over Paul Craig at UFC 309.

The fight was ultimately quiet throughout the 15 minutes. The first round could have fallen either way, as Nickal looked to stand in front of Craig and land low kicks. “Bearjew,” however, checked those and landed kicks of his own.

The second frame saw the American wrestler land the harder strikes, though the round felt quieter than the first. The third stanza saw Nickal stun Craig on a couple of occasions but not follow up on it. That round also saw a brutal reaction from the MSG crowd, bringing down boos and chants of “Overrated!”

The undefeated prospect ultimately swept the judges’ scorecards for the win.

Bo Nickal Gets Booed By MSG Crowd As He Defeats Paul Craig At UFC 309

This marked Nickal’s fourth bout in the UFC after winning a pair of fights on Dana White’s Contender Series. His run in the Octagon thus far has seen him score finishes of Jamie Pickett, Val Woodburn, and Cody Brundage.

Craig, meanwhile, has now lost three straight and five of his last six.

• Read More: UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Live Results & Highlights