Tag: Paul Craig

Paul Craig expects Johnny Walker to wrestle at UFC 283, predicts eventual knockout win in Brazil

Paul Craig Johnny Walker UFC 283Ahead of his Octagon walk later this month in hostile territory at UFC 283, light heavyweight contender, Paul Craig has predicted a rather surprising knockout win over Brazilian opposition, Johnny Walker – despite donning one of the more dangerous grappling games at the light heavyweight limit.  Attempting to defend his spot in the official light […]

Paul Craig Johnny Walker UFC 283

Ahead of his Octagon walk later this month in hostile territory at UFC 283, light heavyweight contender, Paul Craig has predicted a rather surprising knockout win over Brazilian opposition, Johnny Walker – despite donning one of the more dangerous grappling games at the light heavyweight limit. 

Attempting to defend his spot in the official light heavyweight top-10 rankings, Craig, who currently boasts the #9 slot in the division, has yet to return to the Octagon since dropping a unanimous decision loss to one-time title challenger, Volkan Oezdemir at UFC London last July. 

Snapping a three-fight losing skid back in September at UFC 279, Rio de Janeiro native, Walker managed to submit Ion Cutelaba with a dominant first round rear-naked choke submission win, landing his first submission victory during his tenure with the UFC.

Paul Craig envisions knockout win over striker, Johnny Walker at UFC 283

Tasked with toppling Scottish Hit Squad submission specialist, Craig on home soil at UFC 283, Walker has been touted as a makeshift wrestler by the former, who expects the Brazilian to leave an opening – resulting in a knockout win for himself as he attempts to secure a takedown.

“[It’s] one of these things, you’ll take it (a knockout) as quick as you can,” Paul Craig told James Lynch during an interview with Fanatics View. “Once (Johnny) Walker feels actually how strong I am, I think you might find that he’s gonna actually try and shoot (for a takedown).”

“I think when feels the power in my hands, and in my legs, he’s gonna be blown away actually – as most people are,” Paul Craig continued. “I went three rounds with (Magomed) Ankalaev, and that was the thing – he switched up his stance, with the power in my legs, the power in my kicks, the power in my hands. And I don’t think Johnny Walker is ready for what I’ve got.” 

Seeing an impressive four-fight winning run halted in his clash against Oezdemir back in July of last year, Craig landed consecutives over Gadzhimurad Antigulov, Mauricio Rua, incoming vacant title challenger, Jamahal Hill, and former Fight Nights Global champion, Nikita Krylov.

Paul Craig expects Johnny Walker to wrestle at UFC 283, predicts eventual knockout win in Brazil

Paul Craig Johnny Walker UFC 283Ahead of his Octagon walk later this month in hostile territory at UFC 283, light heavyweight contender, Paul Craig has predicted a rather surprising knockout win over Brazilian opposition, Johnny Walker – despite donning one of the more dangerous grappling games at the light heavyweight limit.  Attempting to defend his spot in the official light […]

Paul Craig Johnny Walker UFC 283

Ahead of his Octagon walk later this month in hostile territory at UFC 283, light heavyweight contender, Paul Craig has predicted a rather surprising knockout win over Brazilian opposition, Johnny Walker – despite donning one of the more dangerous grappling games at the light heavyweight limit. 

Attempting to defend his spot in the official light heavyweight top-10 rankings, Craig, who currently boasts the #9 slot in the division, has yet to return to the Octagon since dropping a unanimous decision loss to one-time title challenger, Volkan Oezdemir at UFC London last July. 

Snapping a three-fight losing skid back in September at UFC 279, Rio de Janeiro native, Walker managed to submit Ion Cutelaba with a dominant first round rear-naked choke submission win, landing his first submission victory during his tenure with the UFC.

Paul Craig envisions knockout win over striker, Johnny Walker at UFC 283

Tasked with toppling Scottish Hit Squad submission specialist, Craig on home soil at UFC 283, Walker has been touted as a makeshift wrestler by the former, who expects the Brazilian to leave an opening – resulting in a knockout win for himself as he attempts to secure a takedown.

“[It’s] one of these things, you’ll take it (a knockout) as quick as you can,” Paul Craig told James Lynch during an interview with Fanatics View. “Once (Johnny) Walker feels actually how strong I am, I think you might find that he’s gonna actually try and shoot (for a takedown).”

“I think when feels the power in my hands, and in my legs, he’s gonna be blown away actually – as most people are,” Paul Craig continued. “I went three rounds with (Magomed) Ankalaev, and that was the thing – he switched up his stance, with the power in my legs, the power in my kicks, the power in my hands. And I don’t think Johnny Walker is ready for what I’ve got.” 

Seeing an impressive four-fight winning run halted in his clash against Oezdemir back in July of last year, Craig landed consecutives over Gadzhimurad Antigulov, Mauricio Rua, incoming vacant title challenger, Jamahal Hill, and former Fight Nights Global champion, Nikita Krylov.

At UFC 283 Paul Craig predicts Jamahal Hill to knockout Glover Teixeira: “Hill’s just got this death touch.”

ufc 283 glover paul craig jamahal hillScottish-born MMA fighter ‘Bearjew’ Paul Craig recently discussed the upcoming UFC light heavyweight championship showdown. At UFC 283, on January 21, Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill will battle for the vacant throne. UFC light heavyweight Paul Craig has some perspective as he has faced one of these men in the past. In 2021, Craig defeated […]

ufc 283 glover paul craig jamahal hill

Scottish-born MMA fighter ‘Bearjew’ Paul Craig recently discussed the upcoming UFC light heavyweight championship showdown. At UFC 283, on January 21, Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill will battle for the vacant throne.

UFC light heavyweight Paul Craig has some perspective as he has faced one of these men in the past. In 2021, Craig defeated ‘Sweet Dreams’ Hill via Submission which caused a brutal dislocated shoulder. MMA veteran Glover Teixeira is a top-ranked light heavyweight and the former champion of the division.

Paul Craig talks about the UFC 283 main event

On breaking down the UFC 283’s headlining fight, Paul Craig spoke with James Lynch and said:

“[Glover’s] still got the strength, that Jiu-Jitsu that’s probably got Jamahal Hill a little bit worried about it. But what Jamahal Hill has got that death touch. He just touches people and they fall asleep. So I believe that’s what it’s going to be.”

Most recently, Glover Teixeira was in an unforgettable five-round war against Ji?í Procházka while Hill is on a three-fight knockout win streak. Craig continues:

“Glover has obviously taken some huge shots and he’s weathered the storm. But I believe Hill’s just got this death touch.”

Paul Craig will also be competing at UFC 283 in Brazil. The Scottish grappling specialist is booked against dangerous Brazilian Johnny Walker. On his upcoming fight, ‘Bearjew’ predicts:

“I think when he feels the power in my hands and in my legs, then he is going to be blown away … as most people are … I don’t think Johnny Walker is ready for what I’ve got.”

See the full interview with Paul Craig below:

Paul Craig Reacts To Reasoning Behind Joe Pyfer’s Fiery Post-UFC 303 Callout: ‘This Guy’s F*cked In The Head!’

UFC middleweight veteran Paul Craig was left confused by Joe Pyfer’s agitated callout following his UFC 303 victory. Pyfer made a statement in his return to the win column late last month at the International Fight Week pay-per-view, bouncing back from his first UFC setback in emphatic and violent fashion. Months on from a decision […]

Continue Reading Paul Craig Reacts To Reasoning Behind Joe Pyfer’s Fiery Post-UFC 303 Callout: ‘This Guy’s F*cked In The Head!’ at MMA News.

UFC middleweight veteran Paul Craig was left confused by Joe Pyfer’s agitated callout following his UFC 303 victory.

Pyfer made a statement in his return to the win column late last month at the International Fight Week pay-per-view, bouncing back from his first UFC setback in emphatic and violent fashion.

Months on from a decision defeat to Jack Hermansson in their UFC Fight Night main event at the Apex, “Bodybagz” was back putting his finishing ability on full display at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, where he stopped Canada’s Marc-André Barriault in less than 90 seconds.

In the aftermath, a fired up Pyfer set his sights back on securing a place in the middleweight top 15, this time by targeting the formerly ranked Paul Craig.

More than just a random callout, the New Jersey native revealed a grudge he’s held for months as the motive behind his desire to share the cage with the Scottish vet.

“He just looked at me weird one time and I don’t even think he remembers, but I hold grudges, so f*ck him,” Pyfer said at the UFC 303 post-fight press conference. “I don’t like the dude. That’s the only thing I can say is I don’t really like the guy. There’s something about his f*cking face. It’s also his antics. He gets in your face and be all theatrical, but then he gets touched, and he falls on to the ground like a back princess.

“I think it makes sense, too. Logistically, I think it makes sense. He was number 14, and then he fought Caio (Borralho) and lost. I don’t know where he’s at, if 15 or just outside the rankings, and I’m number 19, so let’s line it up,” Pyfer continued. “That’s what I’m interested in, so why not?”

Craig Bemused By Pyfer’s Reasoning For ‘Disliking’ Him

During a recent episode of his Leather’d Podcast, Craig was shown Pyfer clarifying his reasoning behind calling him out during an appearance on The MMA Hour.

The clip showed “Bodybagz” recalling crossing paths with Craig while in attendance at Boston’s TD Garden for UFC 292 last August. Pyfer appeared offended not to have been given some sort of nod of respect from “Bearjew.”

Suffice to say, Craig was baffled by that justification.

“I don’t (know who he is). A guy nods at me, ‘What the f*ck, who is this guy?’” Craig said. “So what was it, in Boston I didn’t give him a nod? That’s f*cking — this guy’s f*cked in the head (laughs). Man, if that’s what gets you hard.

“So he’s been since Boston thinking about this, ‘This guy never gave me a nod. How could he do that?!’ Like, who the f*ck are you?” Craig continued. “It was a good knockout (at UFC 303). Gotta give him props for that.”

It remains to be seen whether Pyfer will get the opportunity to settle what appears to be a firmly one-sided feud, and one which Craig didn’t even know existed until a couple of weeks ago.

Continue Reading Paul Craig Reacts To Reasoning Behind Joe Pyfer’s Fiery Post-UFC 303 Callout: ‘This Guy’s F*cked In The Head!’ at MMA News.

Paul Craig unhappy with the use of interpreters and subtitles for his interviews: “That’s ­disrespectful to all Scottish people.”

paul craigPaul Craig has called the subtitling of his interviews disrespectful to all Scottish people. Craig is set to take on Brazilian heavy-hitter, Johnny Walker, on the UFC 283 card in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Craig is one of the very few Scottish fighters that are or ever have competed in the UFC and is the […]

paul craig

Paul Craig has called the subtitling of his interviews disrespectful to all Scottish people.

Craig is set to take on Brazilian heavy-hitter, Johnny Walker, on the UFC 283 card in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Craig is one of the very few Scottish fighters that are or ever have competed in the UFC and is the country’s most successful product in the promotion. The 35-year-old has been a part of some massive events in the United States and has put on entertaining fights since he entered the promotion back in 2016.

Still, Craig is left frustrated about how his interviews are handled. Craig, from Airdrie, has a thick Scottish accents but says it’s ‘disrespectful’ that he has to have an interpreter for some events along with his speech being subtitled

“Our trash-talking is tremendous but the issue we have got is nobody can understand it,” Craig said to Off The Ball.

“It’s a bit disrespectful when you’re still speaking English and it’s getting broadcast to the English-speaking world and they are subtitling it because they can’t understand it.

“You do a post-fight interview. I’ve had an interpreter relaying what I’ve said. That’s ­disrespectful to all Scottish people.” (H/T The National)

Paul Craig vs.  Johnny Walker

Craig will have his hands full with Walker who is currently coming off an impressive first-round victory over Ion Cutelaba.

Walker has been up and down since first entering the promotion, but has consistently proved he can be extremely dangerous with all of his victories coming in the first round.

Craig though has one of the most dangerous BJJ games in the UFC and holds submission victories over Jamahal Hill, Nikita Krylov and Magomed Ankalaev.

Who will win Paul Craig or Johnny Walker?

Jamahal Hill: I Could Outgrapple Paul Craig

UFC light heavyweight contender Jamahal Hill took no hits to his grappling confidence when he was beaten on the ground by Paul Craig. Hill has surged towards the top of the 205-pound division in recent times, leaving a path of knocked-out rivals in his…

UFC light heavyweight contender Jamahal Hill took no hits to his grappling confidence when he was beaten on the ground by Paul Craig. Hill has surged towards the top of the 205-pound division in recent times, leaving a path of knocked-out rivals in his wake. That includes Jimmy Crute, former one-time title challenger Thiago Santos,…

Continue Reading Jamahal Hill: I Could Outgrapple Paul Craig at MMA News.