EXCLUSIVE: Paul Craig on his pride at being first Scottish fighter to headline  a UFC card, why...

Maybe these types of professional achievements can only be fully appreciated during retirement, when one can relax with feet up and a pipe.

On Saturday night, Paul Craig made history as the inaugural Scottish fighter to headline a UFC card. This achievement is an appropriate recognition of his almost twenty years of hard work and dedication.

He will compete against Brendan Allen in Las Vegas and took a moment to reflect on his achievements. He recognized how much progress he has made so far while remaining focused on the upcoming competition.

In Mail Sport, the individual who is 35 years old revealed that it's a significant achievement for them. They have worked tirelessly in the UFC for around six or seven years and have been fighting for eleven years altogether. It's something they have been striving for and it's finally come to fruition.

Seeing my image on a poster and having a card dedicated to me is truly incredible. I feel honored to be the inaugural Scottish athlete to be the featured fighter prominently displayed on a card.

The main event happening on Saturday is a match between Paul Craig and Brendan Allen, where they'll be facing off against each other.

In July, Craig emerged victorious in his first middleweight match in London when he faced off against Andre Muniz.

Half a decade ago, I established a list of objectives for myself. One of those targets was to secure a position amongst the top 10 fighters as a light-heavyweight. I succeeded in achieving that milestone and now strive to attain the same ranking as a middleweight. Another mark I aimed for was to be the main event of a show, and I have successfully accomplished that feat. One of my most significant aspirations was to obtain a light-heavyweight championship title.

He stated that he thinks there are chances to explore other weight categories, but he feels like he is best suited to fighting in the middleweight division. He finds it effortless to cause destruction as a middleweight, so he would prefer to stick with it.

I've got a tough fight coming up against a skilled middleweight, and there are plenty of other talented fighters ahead of me in the rankings. However, I think that now is my chance to shine. I'm already 35, so I might only have six to 10 more bouts in my career, but I'm confident that I can become a champion.

I think there's only one person who can prevent me from succeeding and that's Brendan Allen.

I am confident in my abilities to win this five-round match due to my expertise in jiu-jitsu and the significant progress I have made in my striking skills.

In July, Craig participated in his first middleweight match in London. He managed to defeat Andre Muniz through a TKO after transferring from the light-heavyweight division. Craig used his elbows expertly to secure his victory.

After successfully achieving the target weight on Friday, Craig appears to be in excellent condition to compete at the highest level. However, his opponent is an emerging American talent having won seven of his past eight matches, which poses a significant challenge for Craig.

Craig is used to being the one people least expect to succeed, and he enjoys showing them otherwise.

He stated that it's no shock to him that he's often underestimated. He actually enjoys being in that position of being the dark horse. He's always been in that role and it's what motivates him to put up a fight. The skepticism towards his skills only makes him work harder.

out the hard way. He showed incredible grappling skills and was able to dominate opponents with ease. Jamahal Hill and others were amazed by his abilities and found it difficult to compete against him. The Scot's ground game was like magic, as he effortlessly controlled his opponents and demonstrated his expertise in grappling.

I am aware of my exceptional skills. My lack of confidence has been the only hindrance to my success in the light-heavyweight category so far. Winning more matches and showcasing my abilities would undoubtedly boost my self-assurance and lead to further development.

On Saturday evening, you'll witness a tremendously self-assured Paul Craig.

The Apex center proved to be an invaluable resource for the UFC during these unprecedented times, allowing the organization to continue operating and broadcasting live events.

Many people have criticized the choice to continue using the venue instead of displaying cards in front of bigger groups. However, Craig is not bothered by the new surroundings and looks back on the place with happy thoughts.

I really like fighting at the Apex, it's a great place for me to showcase my skills. Even though there is always pressure when entering the ring, I feel like there's slightly less stress at the Apex due to the smaller crowd.

Of course, it is still broadcasted on TV and many individuals are tuning in. However, the burden is reduced since there isn't that intense feeling you experience when competing in a location like London where you feel the tingling sensation on the nape of your neck from the minute you enter the stadium until you exit.

The commotion, the affection, the applause, the disapproval, all of it, but at the Apex, it's toned down, resembling an intense training session at the gym. There's chatter in the distance, which I appreciate, and I find pleasure in observing fights at the Apex.

Craig has previously competed in the Apex center of the UFC and emerged victorious against Mauricio Shogun Rua.

at the championship belt. He believes that with some more victories under his belt, he can become a contender for the title.

Throughout the years, Craig has consistently proven to be one of the most lethal jiu-jitsu fighters in the UFC, causing numerous light-heavyweights to fall into his cunning traps.

Currently, the man is larger than his opponent who is in a lighter weight category. He believes that if he defeats Allen and triumphs in another match, his standing will be elevated and he will be considered for a championship title.

According to him, many categories have a similar system in place where a couple of victories can significantly boost your rankings. Jamahal Hill's impressive wins led him to get a title shot faster than expected in the light-heavyweight category. This is just the way the sport operates - if you can consistently perform well and captivate the audience with your fights, then opportunities will come your way.

Sean Strickland and Sean O'Malley were not the top contenders, yet they were given the chance to compete. The primary focus of the UFC is to entertain, and fighting takes a backseat to that goal. This is why fighters like them are granted title shots, as they bring excitement to the sport.

If you manage to win against Allen and another player in the top 10, you might become famous and gain recognition from people.

The recent victory of Tom Aspinall marks a significant milestone in the world of MMA in the UK as he becomes the third British UFC champ. Though this achievement comes with the interim heavyweight belt, it still signals an electrifying era for MMA lovers in the country.

Craig appeared to be in excellent physical condition when he met the required weight for the match scheduled this week on Friday.

His game has significantly improved, with a strong emphasis on ground tactics.

Craig was having a great time in Las Vegas, enjoying all the excitement. "I saw it at a bar with my group," he said. "It was incredible to witness Tom win and become champion, along with his dad and team. It was all fantastic, and I'm extremely proud to be part of the UK scene right now."

We have achieved success with Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall, which indicates that something significant is on the horizon for the UK. I am optimistic that the MMA community and UFC in the UK will continue to grow, and I am determined to be a part of it.

Tom's win was quite easy and he appeared impressive. I predict he will achieve greater success in the future. I am confident that he will hold the title for an extended period since no other competitor in the top 10 possesses the ability to defeat him, this also includes Jon Jones.

Craig dreams of becoming a champion in his own right and has great confidence in his skills, especially in the middleweight category.

Therefore, how is 'Bear Jew' envisioning his encounter with Allen?

You see, I've been exercising for precisely 25 minutes. During this time, we conducted several assessments on the vehicle to ensure that the lungs, heart, and muscles can withstand the entire 25-minute workout.

The purpose is to display our abilities. The objective is to make him feel the heat and prevent him from implementing his strategy, which focuses on grappling and submission techniques.

I am optimistic that the fight will end in three rounds or less, which would suit my particular fighting style. My technique involves putting a lot of pressure on opponents and looking for opportunities to submit them, which makes me believe that the fight won't last longer than three rounds.

The Bear Jew and Allen had a serious confrontation before their match on Saturday.