Nickal vs Craig

Who won Nickal vs Craig?

Bo Nickal is set to face Paul Craig during the main card of UFC 309, on Saturday 16th November 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 3 rounds in the Middleweight division, which meant the weight limit was 185 pounds (13.2 stone or 83.9 KG).

Nickal vs Craig stats

Bo Nickal stepped into the octagon with an undefeated record of 6 wins, zero losses and 0 draws, 2 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 4 by submission.

Paul Craig made his way to the cage with a record of 17 wins, 8 losses and 1 draw, 4 of those wins coming by knock out and 13 by submission.

This was Bo Nickal's 3rd fight in the UFC, having made his debut for the promotion in 2023. Paul Craig marked his 18th fight for them, having made his own debut for the promotion in 2016.

Bo Nickal's UFC record stood at 3-0-0, while Paul Craig's came in at 9-8-1.

The stats suggested Nickal had a slight advantage in power over Craig, with a 33% knock out percentage over Craig's 24%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Craig had a slight advantage over Nickal, with a 76% submission rate over Nickal's 67%.

Bo Nickal was the younger man by 8 years, at 28 years old.

Craig had a height advantage of 2 inches over Nickal. Despite this, both fighters had a equal reach.

Nickal was the less experienced professional fighter, having had 20 fewer fights, and made his debut in 2022, 8 years and 9 months later than Craig, whose first professional fight was in 2013. He had fought 36 less professional rounds, 7 to Craig's 43.

Nickal vs Craig form

Paul Craig had stopped 1 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight before this contest, he had lost to Caio Borralho at UFC 301 on 4th May 2024 by knockout in the 2nd round at Jeunesse Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Previous to that, he had been beaten by Brendan Allen at UFC Fight Night – Allen vs Craig on 18th November 2023 by submission in the 3rd round at UFC Apex, Las Vegas, United States.

Going into that contest, he had won against André Muniz at UFC Fight Night London – Aspinall vs. Tybura on 22nd July 2023 by knockout in the 2nd round at O2 Arena, London, United Kingdom.

Before that, he had been defeated by Johnny Walker at UFC 283 on 21st January 2023 by knockout in the 1st round at Jeunesse Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

He had lost to Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Fight Night London on 23rd July 2022 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at The O2, London, United Kingdom.

Activity check

Nickal's last 3 fights had come over a period of 1 year, 8 months and 13 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 6 months and 27 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 4 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 1.3 rounds on average.

Craig's last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 3 months and 25 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 5 months and 18 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 11 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.2 rounds on average.

What time did Nickal vs Craig start?

The fighters were expected to walk out at around 4:10 AM UTC , which was 11:10 PM EST or 8:10 PM PST on the West Coast of America, or 4:10 AM GMT in the UK.

What were the odds on Nickal vs Craig?

Bo Nickal was a 1/16 (-1700) favourite going into the contest, while Paul Craig made his way into the ring at 15/2 (+750) with oddsmakers.