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Ben Banks

UFC star Paul Craig downs pint during Octagon exit as he targets Glasgow showdown after stunning win

Airdrie's Paul Craig wants a match on home soil after upsetting the odds with an outstanding victory over Nikita Krylov at UFC London.

Craig was the Briton least likely to emerge from the 02 Arena with a victory but he was keen to prove that wasn't the case.

Nicknamed 'BearJew', the fighter showed no signs of slowing down despite an announcement earlier this year that he will retire in 2022.

The 34-year-old weathered an early storm and used his elite jiu jitsu skills to catch Krylov in a spider's web, securing a triangle choke from his back and the Ukrainian tapped.

It's a result which that moves Craig into contention for a potential title fight further down the line in a fairly open light heavyweight division.

On his way backstage from the Octagon, the Airdrie bruiser was then seen downing a celebratory pint handed to him from the crowd.

And after such a win, 11th-ranked Craig said on the fight's BT Sports broadcast that he wants a bout in Glasgow against eighth-ranked Anthony Smith: "This is an entertaining sport. Were you entertained?

"Hulk Hogan, he used to get pumped off all that (taking big shots). "Glasgow. June. Anthony Smith. Five rounds. He (Krylov) wasn't giving me any spaces so what I has to do was allow him to hit me in the face.

"I know it sound ridiculous, but with that he was opening up his closed style. I'm getting better. I managed to get him down into my world."

His powerful Ukrainian opponent had him against the wall in the opening minutes, with the Scot taking damaging shots to the head.

Controlling his emotions was a big reason why Craig managed to manoeuvre his way out of that situation and over the finishing line.

He added: "I've been in the sport a long time, it sets you up for this stuff. Emotionally, I'm ready. When I joined I was very green, very naive.

"Now I can control my emotions and use them in fights. What a sport, one minute you're taking heavy ground and pound, the next you're whispering in his ear. I told him: 'It's over.'

"Sitting here right now, this is something people never experience and I get to do it regularly. I believe the UK have the demand for MMA. We see this on this card. It's stacked with European and UK talent.

"Why would we not come back? This sport is meant to be watched live, not on the couch the next morning. It's not meant to be up at 5 in the morning feeling knackered. I am a massive advocate for more UK fights, I am pushing this."

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