Paul Craig vs Modestas Bukauskas booked for UFC Paris showdown

An all-European light heavyweight clash has been booked for UFC Paris on September, with Paul Craig set to take on Modestas Bukauskas at the Accor Arena.

Longtime light heavyweight contender and submission specialist Craig has signed a new multi-fight contract with the UFC, and has returned to the light heavyweight division after experiencing mixed results after a drop down to middleweight.

His return to 205 pounds kicked off with a fight against Rodolfo Bellato, but their bout was cut short and ruled a no-contest after Craig caught the Brazilian with an accidental illegal up-kick that left Bellato unable to continue.

It means Craig heads to Paris with just one win – a second-round TKO of Andre Muniz – in his last seven outings.

Now the Scot is set to return to the Octagon to face Lithuania’s Bukauskas, who lives and trains in the UK alongside heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, former PFL champion Ante Delija and Mick Parkin.

“The Baltic Gladiator” captured the Cage Warriors light heavyweight title before making the jump to the world stage with the UFC. But after winning his UFC debut via first-round TKO, three straight losses saw him cut from the promotion and on the sidelines with injury.

Bukauskas fought his way back to fitness, then re-signed with Cage Warriors and recaptured the 205-pound title with a fourth-round knockout of Chuck Campbell to earn a second chance with the UFC. And, since rejoining the promotion, Bukauskas has levelled up.

He’s gone 5-1 in his six fights since rejoining the UFC, with his most recent performance seeing him edge the always-dangerous Ion Cutelaba at UFC 315 to improve his career record o 18-6.

Now he’s set to face Craig in a striker-versus-grappler matchup in Paris that could propel the victor towards the division’s top 15.