Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
SHARON CRAIG
The mum of Airdrie UFC star Paul ‘Bearjew’ Craig is glad she never made the trip to Las Vegas to watch her son in action – because she would have jumped into the otagon to confront the man who handed her son his first loss.
Earlier this month Craig tasted defeat to Australian Tyson Pedro, who stopped the Petersburn man in the opening round.
It was Bearjew’s first professional loss, leaving him with a 9-1 record.
Mum Sharon watched the fight with family at home and admits her instincts would have taken over and she would have been out of her seat and trying to enter the cage.
“We watched the fight with a big group of family and friends,” she told the Advertiser.
“It’s probably for the best. No matter what, he is still my wean. I would have been wanting to run into the cage.”
She continued: “Paul’s a bit disappointed but we are so proud of him for everything he has achieved.
“I was watching some of the stuff beforehand in interviews and he was laughing and joking. I just don’t know where I got him from.
“Paul has always been the same, so down-to-earth and kind-hearted.
“His fans have been so supportive. The amount of love we have had is unbelievable.”
Since returning home Paul is enjoying a break from gruelling fight camps and spending quality time with his daughters Millie and Maya.
“It’s just about getting some family time now for me. I’m really enjoying it,” said the 29-year-old.
“I want to go again. I want to rectify the loss but after a fight you are put on a 30- day mandatory suspension to recover so I’m just getting back to some cardio and staying in shape.
“I’m planning a holiday with my girls. Having two back-to-back fight camps is hard on them and I want some quality time with them and a chance to recharge my batteries.”
Despite the Las Vegas defeat, he remains in an upbeat mood about the experience in the fight capital of the world.
He was the star of the show on the media days ahead of the bout, sporting a kilt and once again wearing Braveheart-style face paint for the weigh-in.
And he has been “feeling the love” from all over the planet after coming back home to Monklands.
“I went nine fights as a professional and nine fights as an amateur and my first loss was in the UFC in Las Vegas,” the lightheavyweight told the Advertiser.
I just didn’t turn up on the night and Tyson did.
“In my opinion it was a quick call by the referee but I know he will disagree. Maybe it wasn’t and I would have taken a few more heavy hits or maybe I could have held on and gone on to win.
“That sticks in my throat a bit.
“After the fight I posted to social media, apologising to everyone for my performance. So many people had been so great with me beforehand.
“I’m not a s hamed to admit I was worried about a bit of a backlash.
“You saw that with Conor McGregor when he lost to Nate Diaz. It was his first loss and everyone j umped on it. There was a s t o rm of criticism.
“I’m rea l l y