Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

Going all out to build on record numbers

- MARK PIRIE

Paul Craig is determined to build on his historic submission record after UFC Fight Island.

The Scottish Hit Squad fighter now holds the record for the most victories with the triangle hold in the history of the company after his third consecutiv­e win with the hold over Gadzhimura­d Antigulov.

After his fifth submission win he now also holds the joint record for wins via tap out in the light-heavyweigh­t division.

The Scot was delighted to put his name in the history books of the MMA giant.

He said:“I was buzzing. I didn’t realise about the actual records until the day before the fight.

“I’ve still got a long time left in my career so I can see my submission numbers just rising, raking up more and more.”

He looks back on the win over the Russian as a launch pad for the rest of his career with the American promotion.

“It was a really favourable fight and the UFC haven’t given us many favourable fights in the past.

“I’ve had tough fights. Unbeaten, untested guys. Dangerous fights who don’t match up stylistica­lly.

“This was an opponent who had a dangerous ground game and some explosive striking. We knew that if he was in danger he would resort to what, in his eyes, is his best attributes which was the wrestling.

“I think he was taken aback by my first double jab. He went for the leg and tried to wrestle me. It felt like he was trying to rip my leg off, right out the socket.

“There is a couple of seconds then I try to establish if I want to stand up and show my striking or go for the submission.

“At no point would I ever say I allowed him to punch me, but if I hadn’t let him hit those shots on an easy target I wouldn’t have been able to get him in that position.

“I gave him the opportunit­y and he took it. Those shots were heavy and I needed three stitches.

“He was so fixated on that it became easier to sink that submission in.”

 ??  ?? Tap out Paul Craig beats Antigulov
Tap out Paul Craig beats Antigulov

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom