In news that will shock no one, it seems that spending most of the year in a caloric deficit can have a negative impact on your body, as well as your mind. That’s probably why lightweight superstar Paddy Pimblett, who returns to competition at UFC 314 in Miami, developed a “genuine eating disorder” from his recurring weight cuts and yo-yo dieting.
Turns out he’s not the only one.
“I had a run at middleweight,” Craig told talkSPORT Breakfast. “I originally started my career as a light heavyweight, had a very good career and decided; you know what, I could take advantage of being 6’4” and take it down a weight class. So I ended up cutting an extra 10kg of weight. It wasn’t as easy as I thought it was. I ended up having four fights at middleweight. I won one of them in London last time out. My other three fights I lost, but I was up against really good opponents. So I decided it was probably better that I move back up to light heavyweight.”
Craig, 37, lost three straight fights in the 185-pound weight class.
“I had developed a really bad eating disorder, as well as moving down to middleweight,” Craig continued. “It seems a much better fit for me at light heavyweight. I’m in a weight-based sport so I have to watch calorie consumption. I also have to go out and parade how I look, so you end up with not just having not only an eating disorder, but how you look. I want to look good, the last thing I want to do is look out of shape. All of these negative things play on you as a fighter, so what you need to do is [ask], what’s best for my mental health? Staying at middleweight definitely wasn’t best for my mental health.”
Former UFC fighters Paige VanZant and Kay Hansen also suffered eating disorders from their ongoing weight cuts.
Craig (17-9-1) will make his light heavyweight return against Brazilian powerhouse Rodolfo Bellato (12-2-1) as part of the upcoming UFC Vegas 106 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, recently made official for Sat., May 17, 2025 at the promotion’s APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.
