Paul Craig
Active 2016–present · rated in 3 editions · peak overall 80.0
Scouting report
Landing a buzzer-beating triangle submission against Magomed Ankalaev with one second remaining, Paul "Bearjew" Craig built a reputation for pulling guard and finishing elite contenders. Born in Airdrie, Scotland, Craig added stoppage wins over Jamahal Hill and Shogun Rua, his ground game highlighted by a 92 BJJ score, 82 Strength, and 80 Overall rating.
Peak ratings
By edition
Craig authored a run of finishes between 2020 and 2021, submitting Gadzhimurad Antigulov with a triangle choke on Fight Island, stopping Mauricio Rua with punches in their rematch, and stopping Jamahal Hill with first-round elbows and punches at UFC 263 in Glendale. His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt guard threats, triangle chokes, and ground finishes are reflected in a 92 BJJ and 76 Boxing.
Craig submitted Nikita Krylov with a first-round triangle choke in London in March 2022, before dropping bouts to Volkan Oezdemir and Johnny Walker and beating Andre Muniz by second-round TKO. His bottom guard, submission transitions, and front-choke threats anchor his 90 BJJ and 76 Boxing ratings.
Paul Craig, the Scottish submission fighter who started with no martial arts background
Paul Craig is Scottish and went from no martial arts experience to 8-0 as an amateur, every win a first-round stoppage. He won a K-1 rules fight in Germany in 2014, and captured the BAMMA World Light Heavyweight title by submitting Marcin Lazarz at BAMMA 23. He also competes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and was promoted to black belt after his 2021 win over Jamahal Hill.
Craig's ratings, in context
Boxing. Fair at 76, his second-lowest striking mark.
Kickboxing. Also 74. He won a K-1 rules fight in Germany in November 2014.
Wrestling. Fair at 74, tied with kickboxing. He beat Andre Muniz by ground and pound TKO at middleweight in 2023.
BJJ. His best at 92 in his first edition. He submitted Magomed Ankalaev at 4:59 of round three, the latest submission finish in a three-round fight in the promotion's history.
Strength. Strong at 82. He beat Mauricio Rua by TKO in round two in 2020 and Jamahal Hill by armbar in 2021.
Durability. Solid at 80. He has been stopped by Tyson Pedro, Khalil Rountree, Alonzo Menifield and Johnny Walker.
Cardio. Good at 82. He fought Mauricio Rua to a split draw in 2019.
Fight IQ. Good at 82. He found the armbar on Hill in round one and the triangle on Nikita Krylov in round one.
BJJ is the reason to draft him: 92
BJJ at 92 leads his card in his first edition, and it shows in the results: a triangle on Kennedy Nzechukwu in 2019, a triangle on Nikita Krylov in 2022, an armbar on Jamahal Hill that dislocated his elbow and ended the fight in round one in 2021, and the submission of Ankalaev at 4:59 of round three. He has won fights that were not going his way early.
Striking and wrestling are level and low: 74
Kickboxing and wrestling are both 74, the lowest on his card. He has been stopped on the feet by Tyson Pedro, Khalil Rountree, Alonzo Menifield and Johnny Walker, and Brendan Allen and Caio Borralho both finished him at middleweight. If a fight stays on the feet, his submission game has less room to work.
Keep exploring
Closest light heavyweight profiles to Paul Craig, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Misha Cirkunovbest bjj 86 · weakest kickboxing 74
- Ovince Saint Preuxbest strength 85 · weakest fight iq 80
- Ryan Spannbest boxing 85 · weakest wrestling 76
- Nikita Krylovbest cardio 86 · weakest wrestling 80
- Light Heavyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Paul Craig's strongest attribute, BJJ.
Draft Paul Craig into your build
Paul Craig enters the pool on any spin landing on light heavyweight between 2020 and present. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Paul Craig is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Paul Craig's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.