If he can make it there, then he can make it anywhere.
A maiden visit to New York, New York and its iconic Madison Square Garden (MSG) offers fresh opportunity to Paul Craig even at this late stage of an illustrious career.
The MMA great has been soaking up the best the Big Apple has to offer ahead of his fight with rising star Bo Nickal as part of a stacked UFC 309 card this evening.
Craig turns 37 later this month and has fought all over the world but the chance to create new memories and experience different locations is something that clearly still excites him, as some stunning looking professional pictures on his Instagram account evidently show.
Taking care of business is still the priority for the battler known as Bearjew but, speaking a few days out from fight night, the chance to explore Manhattan for the first time was not something he was going to turn down either.
“This is my first ever fight in New York, my first time in the city,” he reveals. “I've never been even as a fan of the city so there are a lot of firsts.
“There's going to be a first loss for Bo Nickal. It’s going to be a first time climbing the Empire State Building, first time walking out at MSG, and my first beer after a fight in New York City which is all going to be cool.
“I got here a little bit earlier just so I had time to get myself set up and see some of the bits and bobs, like going up the Top of the Rock.
“The view from the Rockefeller Centre, which is literally a five-minute walk away from us, is incredible. You get to see how vast Central Park is and then you go around the other side and you get to see the Empire State Building. And then you see this tiny, tiny, tiny little Statue of Liberty in the far distance.
“It's such a cool city. It reminds me very much of London, with regards to the hustle and bustle. But times that by 10 because there are so many people and so many cars. I don’t know how people can drive anywhere in this city.”
Madison Square Garden is a sporting Mecca, home to the New York Rangers ice hockey team and basketball’s New York Knicks and the venue for some of boxing’s most iconic scraps. MMA has found a home there, too, from time to time and Craig knows his history.
“MSG is one of these places where, as a fighter, you want to walk out here," he confirms. "Some of the greatest of all-time in combat sports have walked out here. Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and we've seen Conor McGregor walk out here as well.
“I’ve fought on a lot of different cards; the O2, in Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Rio, Sao Paolo, and Mexico City. And this is going to be another special experience.”
Craig is becoming used to being labelled the underdog and it will be no different here. Nickal is the up-and-coming US star, a former college wrestler who is undefeated in six fights since joining the UFC ranks two years ago.
The bookmakers have the 28-year-old listed as a strong favourite but his Scottish opponent has made a useful habit over the years of making such forecasts look very silly.
“I do believe that social media, the way people talk, and the way the UFC push people - this is what happens,” shrugs Craig. “They push these young guys. He's only had a couple of fights in the UFC, a couple of fights all together after coming through the Contender series.
“I don't think he's fought the level of competition that I have. You've got to remember, this sport is not wrestling. This is mixed martial arts.
“Yes, I'm never going to be the wrestler that he is, but in the same breath, he's never going to be the jiu-jitsu practitioner that I am. Then when you combine that with all the experience I've had in the Octagon, having the experience of walking out, having the experience of people booing me, cheering me, jeering me, whatever it is, this is what I thrive on. To be the underdog just makes me want to work harder.
“I don't think there's ever been a time in my career where I have been the favourite. I've never been the sure thing in a fight. I’m going in with an American wrestler but you feel somewhat a little bit more special being Scottish. I just think there's a bit of dog in all of us and we never ever back down. We'll fight to the end.”
Paul Craig vs Bo Nickal is part of UFC 309: Jones vs Miocic which will be shown exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office and can be watched on discovery+, EE TV, Prime Video, Virgin Media TV and Sky Sports.
