Best and worst from UFC Fight Night 159: Rodriguez vs. Stephens

Modified Sep 22, 2019 11:00 GMT

Last night's main event between Jeremy Stephens and Yair Rodriguez ended in sheer disappointment

#2 Best: Paul Craig’s fantastic finish

Paul Craig choked out Vinicius Moreira in a great showing for the Scotsman

Scotland’s Paul Craig has always been a fascinating fighter to watch at 205lbs; not the best athlete, ‘Bearjew’ has made a name for himself by picking up come-from-behind wins, as he did against dangerous foes like Kennedy Nzechukwu and Magomed Ankalaev.

Unfortunately, a fighter can’t survive like that in the UFC and with four losses in his seven Octagon outings, Craig had his back to the wall in his fight with Vinicius Moreira last night.

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Incredibly though, the Scotsman pulled off probably the best showing of his UFC career to take out the Brazilian in the first round, giving us the second-best finish of the night after Steven Peterson’s spinning backfist.

After a brief grappling exchange, Craig levelled Moreira with a pair of knees to the head before dropping to submit the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert with a rear naked choke.

Not only should the win keep Craig’s head above water in the UFC for at least a few more fights, but it also showed some flashes of improvement too, as he appeared to be quicker and stronger than he’d seemed before. Can he develop into a contender now? Stranger things have happened!

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Alan John