Scots legend Craig retires after knockout UFC loss

Paul Craig, a British boxer, announced his retirement after being defeated by Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Paris, fittingly ending his distinguished 29-fight career.

At the conclusion of the first round at Accor Arena, Craig, the most successful Scottish fighter in UFC history, received a brutal elbow on the ground.

The 37-year-old quit the sport after defeating Jamahal Hill and current light-heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev in nine of his 21 UFC fights.

The young eat the old, and I’m the old, according to this sport. Craig thanked you for the memories.

His 29 fights, with only two decisions in each, demonstrate his ability to put on entertaining fights, with the majority of them coming to a stoppage.

With his six wins by submission being the second-most in light-heavyweight history, after Glover Teixeira’s seven, he established himself as a grappling expert in the UFC.

Craig entered the fight with Lithuanian-Briton Bukauskus with only one victory in eight fights after a five-fight winning streak between 2019 and 2022.

With only one minute left, Bukauskus avoided danger before delivering the knockout blow, as Craig had already finished four of his UFC opponents with his signature triangle choke.

Before falling to his feet, a bleeding and dazed Craig sought medical attention and received a console from Bukauskus.

He thanked the crowd for their memories, who reacted with a huge round of applause, removed his gloves, and placed them in the middle of the canvas.

Molly McCann hung up her gloves in March, making Craig the second major MMA fighter to retire this year.

Hevyweight champion Tom Aspinall praised Craig’s “amazing career” while UFC star Aljamain Sterling praised the UFC’s Aljamain Sterling.