At 35, Paul Craig makes history as the first Scottish UFC event headliner, calling it a “dream come true.” His opponent in the spotlight is 27-year-old American Brendan Allen at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas this Saturday.
“I’ve got a poster with my face on it, I’m going to be signing them later which is amazing,” Craig expresses, reveling in the surreal nature of the moment. “Life is all about risk and reward. A ship is safe in the harbor, but that’s not what it’s built for. We’re not designed to be in a nice comfortable life.”
For Craig, the chance to headline the Vegas card signifies a legacy-building opportunity. “It’s legacy for me, I’m the first to do this,” he proudly declares. Reflecting on his journey, he notes the contrast from his childhood collecting sports stickers to now having kids collect his own card. “I’m in a very privileged position.”
Paul Craig Shifts to Middleweight: A Late-Career Move
In a surprising move, Craig transitioned from light-heavyweight to middleweight after defeating Andre Muniz in July. This decision goes against the norm in a sport where fighters typically move up in weight as they age. Craig’s decision to drop down has been more about finding his optimal weight class, and he currently stands 13th in the UFC’s middleweight rankings.
“I’m the first to admit I’m not a spring chicken anymore,” says Craig, acknowledging the late-career adjustment. “Middleweight is my weight class, and it’s taken me until I’m 35 to realize this.”
Craig’s shift required him to work closely with a nutritionist, abandoning his vegan diet of six years. “One of the things we had to do was increase animal proteins. So we had to add yogurt and eggs,” he explains. The initial adjustment to these foods was challenging, but he emphasizes the value of appreciating food more when hungry.
“With the reduction in calories, you can be a bit short with people, just because you’re on the cusp of not enough calories. But you appreciate food so much more when you’re hungry,” Craig adds, emphasizing the mental and physical discipline required in the sport.
Scientific Approach and Late-Career Wisdom
Craig believes that making this shift later in his career has been more beneficial, crediting his age and maturity for the disciplined approach. “In my 20s, I don’t think I’d have had the knowledge to work with [a nutritionist]. But now I’m coming at it as an adult and from a very scientific standpoint.”
Quotes from BBC Sport
As he stands on the brink of headlining a UFC event, Paul Craig embraces the challenges, the sacrifices, and the unique journey that brought him to this historic moment in his career.
As Paul Craig steps into the limelight as the first Scottish fighter to headline a UFC event, what are your thoughts on his late-career shift to middleweight and the discipline required for this historic moment? Share your insights and join the discussion on Craig’s remarkable journey in the comments below!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
