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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Harry Davies

Paul Craig's daughter had 'celebrity status' at school after UFC London win

Paul Craig has revealed his daughter went to school like a "celebrity" after his big win at UFC London.

Craig pushed himself closer to a light heavyweight title shot by submitting Nikita Krylov at the event. After enduring an early onslaught from the Ukrainian, 'Bearjew' caught him in a triangle choke to pick up his fourth consecutive win.

The Scotsman felt he carried over the burden of his losses in fights that didn't go his way to his family and didn't want this to be the case against Krylov. So when Craig submitted his rival, the win was made even sweeter as his daughter become a "celebrity" when she returned to school the following Monday.

"My youngest daughter was going to school on Monday morning as a celebrity, because the UFC commentator John Gooden had said her name on TV so she was going wild," he said.

Craig's daughter, Maya, is named after UFC legend Demian Maia. The Brazilian caught onto this on Twitter and paid respect to his fellow jiu-jitsu wizard Craig, who now has 13 career finishes by submission.

"Not only that, I had said in an interview that she was named after Demian Maia," he added. "So then my partner had seen all this stuff on Twitter that Demian Maia had messaged, so she was on cloud nine heading into school. She thought she was dishing out autographs!

"It's a nice feeling going to the school gate and having normal parents who probably are not massive UFC fans, but they get behind their own and they're like 'congratulations, you're outstanding'.

Paul Craig submitted Nikita Krylov at UFC London (Getty Images)

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"When I spoke to my oldest daughter, she had said the boys in her class had messaged her and said 'your dad's unbelievable, great win'. So both girls went to school proud of me and I imagine that was throughout my family."

Craig has called for a fight with Anthony Smith next, but with 'Lionheart' having a fight in the works the Scot is open to facing either Dominick Reyes or Thiago Santos instead. 'Bearjew' thinks UFC London was a groundbreaking event for UK MMA and would love to compete on the next card in Britain.

"That event for me was a breakthrough event for MMA in the UK," he continued. "I heard Dana White talking to Tom Aspinall about how this isn't the last time they are going to be here. I'm really pleased to be part of that wave and be one of the guys who are going to put on these cards."

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