Craig targets UFC top 10 in March fight

Airdrie’s UFC star Paul Craig says experience can be the key for him as he faces up to Jamahal Hill in March in his next big fight.

Hill is an opponent that Craig has been close to combating before, but says the time is right for their bout on March 20.

American fighter ‘sweet Dreams’ has posted eight straight wins but Craig, who has three years on the 29-year-old, says he’s had much more experience outside of the octagon, which will stand him in good stead.

And he hopes victory will line up a crack at American star Anthony ‘lionheart’ smith.

Craig goes into the fight with some confidence, having taken three wins and a draw in his last four bouts, including a KO of Mauricio ‘shogun’ rua in Vegas in November.

He said: “It’s not the first fight we wanted, we wanted Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith, who I’m sure is ranked fifth, because we were looking to punch up, but the UFC had other plans for us and they wanted us to fight

Jamahal Hill. he’s 8-0 unbeaten so it’s a great opportunity for him, and it’s a great opportunity for me.

“Jamahal hasa bit of weight behind him and beat OSP (Ovince Saint Preux), who fought forthe title two years ago against Jon jones. OSP is a very dangerous opponent with heavy hands and I don’t think we saw the best of him butthat’s MMA for you -– sometimes guys turn up, sometimes theydon’t, and I think Jamahal got an easier round there with him.

“But it still doesn’ t take away from how dangerous Jamahal is, he’s a very technical striker, but I believe that this is going to bethe classic‘ striker vjiu jitsu athlete, and I think my jiujitsu is going to beable to overcome this.

“I’m very hopeful that this can put mein the top 10.

“Both ofus are rising stars, but I just think heis 8-0, he’s only ever fought guys in UFC, HE has never had the experience that I’ve got.

“I believe that is what is going to set me apart and is what’s going to take me into the top 10 and then that fight against anthony‘ lion heart’ smith .”

Craig says the fight against Hill has been in the offing fora while, but just hadn’t happened until now.

He said: “i’m always looking for my next fight and I’m no spring chicken, so to be active is great within the sport, and to be active in sport with the world the way it is, isa bonus as well.

“We hadbeen offered this fight a few times last year butit was never finalised.we were meantto goto Fight Island but we were only given a week’s notice, which for a top-15opponent the risk wasn’t worth the reward.

“We then offered it back to them and said ‘give us a six-week camp and we’ll accept it’ but they turned it down and said they didn’t want it in sixweeks.

“Fast forward to the end of last year, that’s when negotiations started of when it was going to take place, and March 20was what we both agreed on, so it’s a good fight for us.”

Craig added: “i hit a bit of a bad slump when i first came in to the UFC, going win, loss, win, loss, win, loss, which is no way to build your record, butin my last four fights I’m unbeaten.

“I drew oneof them, butit’s all very positive, with no loss on my record for those last four fights, so moving my confidence is through the roof.

“I’m working with my sports psychologist, who is adding to my confidence and justin everyday drilling, getting better, faster, stronger, bigger and I’m working with the same coaches, but adding more coaches in.”