Paul Craig made his successful middleweight debut in the UFC at UFC Fight Night 224 in London. But he’s not ready to leave the light heavyweight division behind just yet. On Saturday, Craig stepped up to the Octagon at The O2 and pulled off an impressive win over ranked competitor Andre Muniz showcasing his skills at 185lbs.
Craig sees his move up to middleweight as the beginning of a new chapter in his career rather than the end of his time at 205 pounds. In the post-fight press conference, Craig made it clear that he plans to compete in both weight classes looking for winning opportunities wherever they may be.
“We haven’t finished light heavyweight, and we’ve just started middleweight,” Craig confirmed. “We’ll do both. It’s where the fights are. If the fights are in the light heavyweight division, we’ll have them.”
Paul Craig is victorious in his UFC middleweight debut, and is looking forward to pursuing the double title
Having already achieved victories over such top fighters as Jamal Hill and Magomed Ankalayev in the light heavyweight category. Craig believes he can continue to excel in both weight classes. He also mentioned his victory over Nikita Krylov, which indicates his confidence in his abilities across the two divisions.
The 34-year-old fighter admitted that managing weight for two different divisions can present challenges for some. But he is confident he and his team are up to the task. Craig emphasized the importance of a strong support system to deal with the science of weight management effectively.
From the point of view of science, this is not difficult at all. Craig explained. “If you’re going here without a team, and you’re doing it yourself, you’re leaving it up to chance. Then it’s going to be tough. But as long as you have a good team that’s all doing their jobs, all doing their best, (it’s not that hard).”
Craig’s faith in his team is evident as he highlights their role in making the transition between weight classes smoother. Training partners, coaches, and mentors are all essential in supporting Craig’s journey. The camaraderie and assistance they provide is appreciated.
With aspirations of holding the UFC title before his career ends. Craig is determined to make the most of opportunities in both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. He realizes that the road may not be easy, but he is willing to face challenges and work hard to achieve his goals.
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