Andrew Craig

{{Infobox martial artist

| name = Andrew Craig

| other_names = Highlight

| image =

| image_size = 200px

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = Andrew Brendan Craig

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|1|15}}

| birth_place = Houston, Texas, United States

| death_date =

| death_place =

| death_cause =

| residence = Austin, Texas, United States

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}

| weight = {{convert|171|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}

| weight_class = Middleweight
Welterweight

| reach_in = 76

| reach_footnote = {{cite web|url=http://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-san-diego-2015/printFightCard|title=Fight Card - UFC Fight Night Mir vs. Duffee|publisher=UFC.com|accessdate=July 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715234510/http://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-san-diego-2015/printFightCard|archive-date=July 15, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

| style =

| stance = Orthodox

| fighting_out_of = Houston, Texas, United States

| team = Team Tooke

| rank = Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Travis Tooke{{cite podcast|url=https://teamtooke.com/podcasts/tooke-talks-episode-10-andrew-craig/|host=Travis Tooke|date=March 2, 2020|title=Jiu-jitsu Black Belt and former UFC Fighter Andrew Craig joins the Tooke Talks podcast. Andrew and Travis are cousins and this interview was like all other get togethers...lots of laughs!}}

| years_active = 2010–2015

| mma_win = 9

| mma_kowin = 3

| mma_subwin = 1

| mma_decwin = 5

| mma_loss = 4

| mma_koloss = 1

| mma_subloss = 1

| mma_decloss = 2

| mma_draw =

| mma_nc =

| url =

| sherdog = 63284

| footnotes =

| updated =

}}

Andrew Brandon Craig (born January 15, 1986)[http://boxing.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/boxingnvgov/content/results/MMA/2013/07-06-13MMA.pdf Mixed martial arts show results Date: July 6, 2013] is an American mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2010, he has also competed for Bellator.

Background

Craig is from Houston, Texas, and grew up playing mainly football, but dabbled with a bunch of other sports too.{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2011/09/fight-path-team-tookes-andrew-craig-returns-to-hdnet-for-legacy-title-defense|title=Fight Path: Team Tooke's Andrew Craig returns to HDNet for Legacy title defense|date=September 15, 2011|publisher=mmajunkie.com}} He started football in the third grade, and played as running back. He graduated Stratford High School (Houston){{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2014/04/world-traveler-andrew-craig-happy-not-to-be-playing-villain-role-at-ufc-fight-night-39|title = World traveler Andrew Craig happy not to be playing villain role at UFC Fight Night 39|date = 8 April 2014}} before going to college at the University of Texas where he earned a degree in corporate communications. Craig began learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu from his cousin – Travis Tooke – who was already a black belt in the martial art. Without any other martial art background, Craig started training mixed martial arts as a college freshman. After graduating college, Craig began his career as a professional MMA fighter.

Mixed martial arts career

=Early career=

Craig made his professional debut in May 2010 for USA MMA winning his first fight via unanimous decision. His second fight was held at Bellator 27 against Rodrigo Pinheiro. Craig won the fight after the cageside doctor ruled Pinheiro unable to continue. Craig won two fights under the International Xtreme Fight Association banner before signing with the Texas-based promotion Legacy Fighting Championships.

=Legacy Fighting Championships=

Craig made his Legacy Fighting Championships debut on April 9, 2011, against William Bush for the Legacy Fighting middleweight title. In the fifth and final round, Craig won the fight via TKO.

Craig was set to make his first title defense at Legacy Fighting 8 against Bellator and WEC veteran, Eric Schambari. However, Schambari weighed in past the middleweight limit and the fight became a three round non-title fight. Craig won the fight via unanimous decision.

=Ultimate Fighting Championship=

Craig made his UFC debut on short notice as an injury replacement for Jared Hamman against Australian Kyle Noke on March 3, 2012, at UFC on FX 2.{{cite web|title=Andrew Craig replaces Jared Hamman, meets Kyle Noke at UFC on FX 2 |url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/27051/andrew-craig-replaces-jared-hamman-meets-kyle-noke-at-ufc-on-fx-2.mma |date=1 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313124323/http://mmajunkie.com/news/27051/andrew-craig-replaces-jared-hamman-meets-kyle-noke-at-ufc-on-fx-2.mma |archivedate=13 March 2012 }} Despite losing the first round, Craig came back to dominate the second and third rounds, winning via unanimous decision.

Craig defeated Rafael Natal on July 11, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/28737/rafael-natal-vs-andrew-craig-slated-for-ufc-on-fuel-tv-4.mma |title=Rafael Natal vs. Andrew Craig slated for UFC on FUEL TV 4 |work=mmajunkie.com |date=May 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519045626/http://mmajunkie.com/news/28737/rafael-natal-vs-andrew-craig-slated-for-ufc-on-fuel-tv-4.mma |archivedate=May 19, 2012 }} After being rocked and controlled for the majority of the second round, Craig landed a head kick to capture a comeback knockout victory.

In his third fight for the promotion, Craig faced Ronny Markes on January 19, 2013, at UFC on FX 7.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/31435/ufcs-return-to-brazil-on-jan-19-will-be-ufc-on-fx-7.mma |title=UFC makes official Jan. 19 card in Brazil |publisher=MMAjunkie.com |date=November 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106094702/http://mmajunkie.com/news/31435/ufcs-return-to-brazil-on-jan-19-will-be-ufc-on-fx-7.mma |archivedate=November 6, 2012 }} He lost the fight via unanimous decision. It was the first loss of his professional career.

Craig defeated former WEC Middleweight Champion Chris Leben via split decision on July 6, 2013, at UFC 162.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/03/craig-vs-leben-baczynski-vs-melancon-added-to-julys-ufc-162-event |title=Craig vs. Leben added to July's UFC 162 event |publisher=MMAjunkie.com |author=Staff |date=2013-03-12 |accessdate=March 12, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314101503/http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/03/craig-vs-leben-baczynski-vs-melancon-added-to-julys-ufc-162-event |archivedate=March 14, 2013 }}

Craig took on English fighter Luke Barnatt in his next outing on October 26, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 30.{{cite web|url=http://www.yourmma.tv/news/details.asp/id/2912/two-middleweight-bouts-confirmed-for-ufc-manchester-2013.htm |title=Two Middleweight Bouts Confirmed For UFC Manchester 2013 |publisher=YourMMA.tv |date=2013-08-22 |accessdate=August 22, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102023017/http://www.yourmma.tv/news/details.asp/id/2912/two-middleweight-bouts-confirmed-for-ufc-manchester-2013.htm |archivedate=January 2, 2016 }} He lost the fight via submission in the second round. Despite the loss on his record, the fight also earned Craig his first Fight of the Night bonus award.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/10/ufc-fight-night-30-bonuses|title=UFC Fight Night 30 bonuses: Machida, Musoke, Barnatt and Craig earn $50k awards |publisher=MMAjunkie.com |author=Staff|date=26 October 2013 |accessdate=2013-10-26}}

Craig was expected to face Chris Camozzi on April 11, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 39.{{cite web|url=http://fansided.com/2014/02/25/ufc-fight-night-39-abu-dhabi-adds-ten-fights/#!xwIUy|title=UFC Fight Night 39: Abu Dhabi adds ten fights|publisher=fansided.com |author=Alex Schlinsky|date=25 February 2014|accessdate=2014-02-25}} However, the fight was cancelled on the day of the weigh-ins as Craig was ruled out with an illness.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2014/04/illness-scraps-andrew-craig-vs-chris-camozzi-at-ufc-fight-night-39/|title=Illness scraps Andrew Craig vs. Chris Camozzi at UFC Fight Night 39|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=John Morgan|accessdate=2014-04-10|date=2014-04-10}}

Craig faced Cezar Ferreira on June 28, 2014, at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens.{{cite web|url=http://www.csnhouston.com/blog/other/craig-fight-ferreira-san-antonio|title=Craig to fight Ferreira in San Antonio |publisher=csnhouston.com|author=Daniel Saludo|accessdate=2014-04-22|date=2014-04-22}} He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Craig was expected to face Edgar Garcia in a welterweight bout on July 15, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 71.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2015/05/andrew-craig-vs-edgar-garcia-added-to-ufc-fight-night-71-in-san-diego|title=Andrew Craig vs. Edgar Garcia added to UFC Fight Night 71 in San Diego|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=May 11, 2015|accessdate=May 11, 2015}} However, Garcia was forced from the bout with injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Lyman Good.{{cite web|url=http://themmareport.com/2015/06/lyman-good-signs-with-ufc-replaces-edgar-garcia-at-ufc-fight-night-71-against-andrew-craig/|title=Lyman Good signs with UFC, replaces Edgar Garcia at UFC Fight Night 71 against Andrew Craig |publisher=themmareport.com|author=Staff|date=2015-06-24|accessdate=2015-06-24}} Craig lost the fight via TKO in the second round and was subsequently released from the promotion following the loss.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2015/07/ufc-fight-night-71-results-lyman-good-flattens-andrew-craig-with-second-round-tko|title=UFC Fight Night 71 results: Lyman Good flattens Andrew Craig with second-round TKO|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Ben Fowlkes|date=2015-07-15|accessdate=2015-07-15}}

Personal life

Craig works as the head MMA coach at 10th Planet Austin and Director of Partnership Development for UFC Vet Tim Kennedy. {{cite podcast|url=https://www.patreon.com/posts/combat-sports-36750493|title=Combat Sports Minute: UFC 249|date=May 5, 2020|host=Dan Regester}}