Paul Craig has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts following a knockout loss to Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Paris. The defeat, which came via a last-second elbow at the end of round one, marked Craig’s sixth loss in the past three years and his fourth consecutive defeat inside the Octagon[1][3][6]. Despite signing a new contract with the UFC earlier this year, the Scottish fighter chose to retire in the Octagon after the brutal finish.
Craig, who will turn 38 in November, returned to the light-heavyweight division this summer after a challenging run at middleweight, which included consecutive losses to Brendan Allen, Caio Borralho, and Bo Nickal. His June bout with Rodolfo Bellato ended in a no-contest due to an accidental illegal upkick. Overall, Craig retires with a record of 17-10-1 and one no-contest and is recognized for signature wins over championship-level fighters including Magomed Ankalaev, Jamahal Hill, and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua[1][4].
During his post-fight interview, Craig poignantly said, “The young eat the old, and I’m old. Thank you for the memories,” as he left the gloves in the octagon to signal the end of his career. UFC commentator Joe Rogan supported Craig’s decision given his age and the toll of repeated knockouts, stating, “Good for him…. That’s enough, that guy has been KOd…”[2].
Craig ends his UFC career with a roster record of 9-10-1 (with one no-contest), having debuted in 2016 as a skilled submission specialist and remaining a fan favorite throughout his professional journey[1][4].
References
- [1] Paul Craig announces retirement after knockout loss at UFC Paris
- [2] Paul Craig Ends 5 Years Commitment With Dana White as Joe Rogan Issues Health Warning After UFC Paris Retirement
- [3] Modestas Bukauskas Scores Last Second R1 KO, Craig Retires
- [4] 22-fight UFC favorite announces retirement after brutal buzzer-beater knockout
- [6] Modestas Bukauskas Finishes Paul Craig With Spectacular Buzzer …