LEADING LIGHT
Craig determined to climb to the top
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FINAL SAY
PAUL CRAIG has a Hill to climb first and then a mountain to scale – but is determined to reach the summit of the lightheavyweight division.
The affable Scot’s hard work in more than four years with the UFC is starting to pay off, with Craig suffering just one defeat in his last six bouts to climb to No.14 in the rankings.
‘Bearjew’ claimed his biggest scalp to date last time out, defeating MMA legend Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua by TKO at UFC 255 in November.
But now Craig, 33, faces a different challenge at UFC Vegas 22 on March 21 when he takes on undefeated newcomer Jamahal Hill.
He said: “I do believe that the opponents I have fought are at a much higher level than what Jamahal is.
“If I look back at myself when I came into the UFC, I was 8-0, but I was very, very green. I was very young and naive and had loads to work on.
“To compare that four years down the line, I am a much different fighter. Every single fight, from years ago to now, I am a different guy and I believe this Paul Craig would beat any previous version of myself.
“I am coming into my prime, while Jamahal is very young and has not experienced someone as hungry as me.”
With perennial champion Jon Jones moving up to heavyweight, the division is wide open and Craig, who has racked up 12 submission victories in his career, is hoping to capitalise, though he is not expecting an easy ride to the top.
He added: “I feel like the gatekeeper of the top 15 and all those guys above me, I am in the mix with them. And I do believe my skillset is unique. “There is nobody in there who is a straight-up grappler and who has the MMA jiu-jitsu that I have.
“You might have guys with heavy hands who are athletic but I have the grit and determination which all UK fighters have.
“I set goals
■ CHALLENGE: Jamahal Hill and this year’s is to get into that top 10 and get on a title run. I want to get to the spot where people are saying my name and the title in the same conversation.
“I am not looking past Jamahal, but I do have visions of me becoming champion one day. It is probably not 2021, but I believe I will be in contention by the end of the year.”
Craig will have one eye on this Sunday’s light-heavyweight title fight between new champion Jan Blachowicz and challenger Israel Adesanya, the middleweight belt holder.
He said: “Adesanya has got power and accuracy but I believe Jan is just far too big and far too powerful.
“It gets people talking and it will be interesting to see how Adesanya does against someone who has knocked out some of the best guys in the division.”