Scotland Legend Craig Retires After Knockout Loss

Britain's Paul Craig brought his distinguished 29-fight profession to a adjacent arsenic he announced his status pursuing conclusion by Modestas Bukauskas astatine UFC Paris.

Craig, nan astir successful Scottish combatant successful UFC history, was knocked retired by a sadistic elbow connected nan crushed astatine nan extremity of nan first information astatine nan Accor Arena.

The 37-year-old leaves nan athletics having won 9 of his 21 fights successful nan UFC pinch victories complete existent light-heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev and erstwhile champion Jamahal Hill.

"This sport, nan young eat nan aged and I'm old. Thank you for nan memories," said Craig.

Whether Craig won aliases lost, his grounds of conscionable 2 decisions successful 29 fights is grounds of his expertise to put connected entertaining fights - pinch astir of them ending successful a stoppage.

He made a sanction for himself arsenic grappling master successful nan UFC, pinch his six wins by submission being nan second-most successful light-heavyweight history down Glover Teixeira's seven.

After a five-fight triumph streak betwixt 2019 and 2022, Craig's shape dipped and he came into nan title pinch Lithuanian-Briton Bukauskus pinch only 1 triumph successful 8 bouts.

After surviving until nan last 10 seconds of nan first round, Craig pulled defender and dropped to nan crushed - a move which proved to beryllium his downfall.

While Craig looked for his signature triangle choke - a move withwhich he has vanished 4 of his UFC opponents - Bukauskus avoided threat earlier dealing nan knockout rustle pinch only 1 2nd remaining.

A bleeding and pensive Craig was seen to by doctors and was consoled by Bukauskus earlier getting to his feet.

There he removed his gloves, placed them successful nan mediate of nan canvas and thanked nan crowd for nan memories, who responded pinch a immense information of applause.