June 29, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Paul Craig (blue gloves) before the fight against Alonzo Menifield (red gloves) during the UFC Fight Night at Target Center. Mandatory credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports
Paul Craig is looking forward to spending big moments in the Octagon.
The UFC is back in a big market with many names that fans love at UFC London. Names like Tom Aspinall, Molly McCann and Paddy Pimblett grace the card in fights that will help propel their careers forward. Paul Craig is in a position like this as he looks to extend his winning streak to five and continue his rise in the light heavyweight division.
Craig first joined the UFC in 2016 and had moderate promotional success. He enters this fight boasting an 8-4-1 record in the Octagon and is 16-4 professionally. His current winning streak dates back to 2020, where he won four times in a row, with his last appearance against Nikita Krylov earlier in 2022. Craig is currently ranked eighth in the division.
“I would like him to go the Triangle route. Triangle, in London, would be the icing on the cake for me,” Craig said during media day interviews. “To beat another top-ten opponent, with a triangle, in London. All these kinds of things are the things I want. Heroes come and go. I would like to remember them for a moment.”
Volkan Oezdemir has been on a slide since fighting for the title
And for another win, he will have to beat ninth-placed Volkan Ozdemir. Oezdemir is experiencing a sharp decline recently. Since his 2018 fight against Daniel Cormier at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, he has lost four of his last six matches, including his current streak in two losses. Those losses come against some of the division’s top players, but they still stand in stark contrast to his performance during his rise to that title shot.
“Because someone has had quite a few losses in our sport, you can’t say he’s on a dip, just because his ascent has been a lot faster,” said Craig. “If you compare his rise to mine, he knocks a few people out and gets that title shot. He’s still a serious opponent so you can’t rule him out.”
UFC London: Curtis Blades vs Tom Aspinal match will take place on Saturday, July 23, 2022, live from 02 Arena in London, England. Follow up with FanSided MMA for all the news and highlights.
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