After Paul Craig's loss to Bo Nickal at UFC 309, where he struggled to handle Nickal’s unrelenting pressure and technical striking, it’s clear that Craig needs to regroup and reassess his strategy moving forward in the UFC's light heavyweight division. A potential opponent that makes sense for Craig at this stage of his career is Julian Marquez, a fellow middleweight who has had an up-and-down UFC run but remains a dangerous and unpredictable fighter.

Why Julian Marquez?

Marquez (9-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) has proven to be a skilled fighter, capable of both knockout power and submission threats, but he's also shown vulnerabilities in his performances, particularly against fighters with strong striking and grappling games. Marquez’s recent losses—like his TKO defeat to Marc-André Barriault and a knockout loss to Gregory Rodrigues—show that, while he is a dangerous striker, he has been susceptible to high-pressure situations. Similarly, Craig himself has struggled when facing pressure and consistent striking, which makes Marquez a suitable test for Craig to regain his form.

Marquez's well-rounded skill set—his powerful strikes and solid submission game—could give Craig an opportunity to showcase his grappling prowess and potentially submit an opponent with some grappling weaknesses. Despite his flaws, Marquez has been able to win fights by both knockout and submission, earning significant victories in the process, including a Performance of the Night award against Maki Pitolo at UFC 258.

For Craig, facing Marquez could offer a balanced matchup. Both fighters have similar fighting styles, with a focus on striking and grappling, though Marquez has a slight edge in striking and knockout power. Craig could capitalize on his own grappling and submission skills to challenge Marquez on the ground, which has been his strong suit in past victories.

A Win Would Be Key for Both Fighters

A matchup against Julian Marquez would provide Paul Craig with a perfect opportunity to bounce back from his recent loss. It would allow him to test his grappling skills against an opponent who is strong on the feet but not invulnerable to being taken down or submitted. Craig's loss to Nickal was a tough one, but a win against someone like Marquez would get him back on track and provide a much-needed boost to his confidence and UFC ranking.

For Marquez, a fight against Craig represents an opportunity to return to winning ways after a string of setbacks. With his skill set, Marquez could prove that his past losses were just bumps in the road, and a win against a seasoned veteran like Craig would keep him competitive in the UFC’s middleweight division.

Julian Marquez's Last Five Fights:

1. Loss to Zachary Reese
Event: UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov
Date: June 8, 2024
Method: TKO (body kick and punches)
Round: 1
Time: 0:20
Location: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
2. Loss to Marc-André Barriault
Event: UFC 285
Date: March 4, 2023
Method: TKO (punches)
Round: 2
Time: 4:12
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
3. Loss to Gregory Rodrigues
Event: UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett
Date: June 18, 2022
Method: KO (punches)
Round: 1
Time: 3:18
Location: Austin, Texas, United States
4. Win over Sam Alvey
Event: UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland
Date: April 10, 2021
Method: Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)
Round: 2
Time: 2:07
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
5. Win over Maki Pitolo
Event: UFC 258
Date: February 13, 2021
Method: Submission (anaconda choke)
Round: 3
Time: 4:17
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States