Determined Paul Craig is aiming to add to his growing UFC legacy after signing up for a short-notice dust-up set to be the biggest in Scottish MMA history
‘Bearjew’ will face Pride middleweight Grand Prix champion and former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua on November 16.
Shogun (26-11), who was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018, has shared the Octagon with some of the greatest names in the sport such as Jon Jones, Lyota Machida, Dan Henderson, Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell during his 12 year stint with the world's leading MMA promotion, and was originally lined up to fight Sam Alvey at UFC Fight Night 164 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
However, a broken hand has ruled Alvey out of the bout making way for Bearjew to celebrate the first fight in his new contract and realise a long standing ambition of fighting a Brazilian MMA legend.
Craig exclusively told Record Sport : “After my first win in the UFC I said I wanted to fight a Brazilian legend like Shogun and when we seen that his opponent pulled out I knew that this would be my best opportunity to get this fight. Straight away we messaged the UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard and asked the question. We hadn’t even been offered a new contract yet at that point, but we really wanted this fight.
“A few days later we got word from Mick that Shogun accepted the fight. The UFC announced the fight pretty much straight away yesterday and my social media has gone mental ever since with messages of support and excitement.
“I only have a two week fight camp to prepare for this but I have kept myself in training since my last fight, so my weight is good”.
This fight marks the 31 Scottish Hit Squad man’s fifth UFC fight in just 12 months, which is a gruelling schedule for any fighter, but slowing down is not on the mind of the former BAMMA light heavyweight champ. Craig said “I’m the wrong side of 30 now and time is creeping up on me so I want to get as many fights as possible. I have shown that I will fight anyone, anywhere and anytime. I would love to be considered the Cowboy Cerrone of the light heavyweight division.
“I have just signed a new contract with the UFC so what a way to start it off by sharing the Octagon a UFC Hall of Famer and a former UFC Pride champ. He is an absolute legend of the game.
“I believe if I beat Shogun that will take me closer to a top 15 spot. He has been preparing for Alvey this whole fight camp which means he has been preparing for a striking match. Now he has to change that up at the last minute and prepare for takedowns and submissions. I know he has a black belt in Jiu Jitsu but I have beaten black belts before. Anyway, as far as I’m concerned belts are just for holding up your trousers.
“This is my chance to enter 2020 in a much better position in my career. I want to change my life and my family’s life and I believe this fight is the gateway for me to do that. My record against Brazilians is pretty favourable at 2-0 and I will be looking for the hat trick against Rua.
“Dana White said to me at UFC 209 that you have got to make it for yourself in this game because nobody is going to do it for you.
“One fight can change your life, and I hope this is the one that changes my life”.
