Paul Craig has openly discussed the detrimental impact fighting in the UFC middleweight division had on his mental health.
The Scottish fighter's decision to cut down to 185 pounds followed a tough loss to Johnny Walker at UFC 283 in Brazil. While his middleweight debut resulted in a victory over Andre Muniz, his subsequent three fights against Brendan Allen, Caio Borralho, and Bo Nickal ended in defeat.
Despite facing highly regarded opponents, Craig's time in the division took a toll on his well-being.
Craig's recent decision to return to the light heavyweight division comes after he confronted the mental strain associated with maintaining the middleweight cut. He revealed how an eating disorder helped him to realize the negative impact the division had on his mental state.
This candid admission highlights the challenges fighters face in managing their weight and the potential consequences for their overall health.
I had developed a really bad eating disorder, as well as moving down to middleweight,” Craig told talkSPORT. “It seems a much better fit for me at light heavyweight...the eating disorder, I'm in a weight based sport so I have to watch calorie consumption. I also have to go out and parade how I look, so you end up with not just having not only an eating disorder but how you look.
Going out there, I want to look good the last thing I want to do is look out of shape. All of these negative things play on you as a fighter, so what you need to do is: What's best for my mental health? Staying at middleweight definitely wasn't best for my mental health.
A veteran of MMA, Craig is notable for being the only fighter to defeat current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC. His journey to the UFC began in 2016, following a successful career in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, where he earned multiple British and Scottish championships and a black belt. His elite ground game skills are evidenced by his 13 submission victories out of 17 professional wins.
Craig's return to the light heavyweight division signals a move to prioritize his mental and physical health. His decision to address his eating disorder and the mental strain of the middleweight division underscores the importance of fighter well-being in combat sports.
Craig is set to fight Rodolfo Bellato at a UFC Fight Night event inside Las Vegas' UFC Apex on May 17.
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