Paul Craig is set to take on Caio Borralho at the upcoming UFC 301 event on May 4. The bout will be contested at middleweight and will be Craig’s 3rd fight in the 185 lbs division after he moved down from light heavyweight in 2023. The Scottish fighter is known for his impressive BJJ skills and holds the record for the second most performance-of-the-night bonuses in UFC history with 8 to his name.

While his last fight against Brendan Allen in November 2023 ended in a submission loss in the third round, it’s interesting to note that Craig hasn’t lost more than 2 fights in a row in his UFC tenure. As such, it’ll be interesting to see how he deals with the challenge Borralho will present come fight night. But before that, let’s take a look at ‘Bearjew’s life outside the Octagon and learn all we know about the UFC middleweight’s family life, wife, and kids.

Paul Craig’s partner and their heartwarming story

The Scottish mixed martial artist proposed to his girlfriend, Cheryl Arbuckle after winning the Scottish light heavyweight title back in 2013. According to reports online, Paul Craig invited Arbuckle into the arena and proposed to her with a ring on his index finger. The couple had been together for 3 years at that point but had been familiar with each other for a decade. 

The engagement took place in front of a crowd of 500 fans at Strathclyde Park’s Alona Hotel. Arbuckle joined Craig in the ring, unaware of what was about to happen. Craig then expressed his gratitude to his teammates and coaches before surprising her with the proposal. The crowd cheered as Craig presented the ring and asked Arbuckle to marry him.

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Despite the public setting, she happily accepted Craig’s proposal, much to the delight of the cheering fans. The couple’s special moment was accompanied by their song, “Delicate” by Damien Rice, playing in the background. In a statement shared by the Daily Record, Arbuckle stated, “I was totally shocked and gobsmacked, I think for the first time ever I was actually speechless!”

Craig has 2 daughters and one of them is named after Demian Maia

In an interview with The Sun ahead of his UFC 209 clash against Tyson Pedro in 2017, Paul Craig revealed that he has two daughters, Millie and Maia. He also shared that before each fight, he tapes pictures of his daughters onto his gloves, a tradition that he began to bring him good luck and motivation.

He stated in the interview, “I’m quite sentimental. I keep all my stuff. I can see their pictures underneath all my wraps and it’s a cool feeling. Maia doesn’t understand what I do, she just knows ‘Daddy does the boosh’. But Millie knows exactly what I do.”

His daughter, Maia, is named after former UFC fighter and grappling legend, Demian Maia. And after his win at UFC Fight Night 204 in London, the Brazilian reached out to Craig on social media to share a message of appreciation for the fellow BJJ stylist.

In an interview with The Mirror after the win, Craig revealed, “I had said in an interview that she was named after Demian Maia, so then my partner had seen all this stuff on Twitter that Demian Maia had messaged…”.  And as Craig continues to pursue success in the Octagon, his dedication to his family remains a driving force behind his journey in the UFC, which has also led to some ‘celebrity’ moments for his daughters at school!

‘Bearjew’s daughters were on ‘cloud 9’ after their father’s UFC Fight Night 204 victory

Paul Craig’s victory at UFC London against Nikita Krylov in 2022 not only propelled him closer to the top of the light-heavyweight division but also turned his daughters into ‘celebrities’ at their school.  The Scottish light heavyweight had secured a triangle choke submission against Krylov in the first round of the fight, marking his fourth consecutive win at the time.

As such, he revealed in an interview with The Mirror, “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.”

The supportive atmosphere extended beyond Craig’s family, with other parents congratulating him at the school gate. Even classmates of Craig’s oldest daughter acknowledged his remarkable win, leaving both girls feeling proud. He went on to further reveal, “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…”

In conclusion, while the anticipation builds for his upcoming fight, it’s heartwarming to reflect on the moments that define Craig’s life outside of the Octagon. From his touching proposal to Cheryl Arbuckle to the pride his daughters felt after his victories, Craig’s journey extends beyond the confines of the UFC cage. And as UFC 301 approaches, his fans and family will be eagerly awaiting the next chapter in ‘Bearjew’s journey in the UFC!