UFC 301 will take shape soon in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja puts his title strap on the line against Steve Erceg in the headliner. This week, the fighters and the rest of the fighting roster landed in Rio. Paul Craig’s astonishing hairstyle was the biggest takeaway, and it brought fans memories of the “blonde/platinum version” of Charles Oliveira.
Paul Craig last lost out to Brendan Allen in a key middleweight affair at the UFC Fight Night 232 headliner. Allen dominantly submitted Craig at the 0:38 mark of Round 3, moving on to title shot aspirations. Now, he means to rebound well, opening up the main card of UFC 301 against Caio Borralho.
The Scottish 185lber is known for his rugged demeanor. Sporting a blue “Braveheart” face paint, Craig sometimes takes his stoic disposition a bit too far. Even during their UFC Fight Night 232 main event, fight fans had sneered at Craig for refusing to touch gloves during his losing affair. However, all such fan perceptions are about to change with how much of a fan-favorite Oliveira and his iconic platinum hair are.
With UFC returning for its fifth pay-per-view of the 2024 season, the ceremonial UFC “Embedded” Vlog series is out. UFC 301 “Embedded” Vlog – No. 1 & 2 consequently see Paul Craig landing in Rio and sporting platinum hair later on. A prime reaction on X read – “New Mythical Fighter Unlocked: Bleached Hair Paul Craig #UFC301.” Charles Oliveira’s winning stint with his platinum hair is a famed affair. Hence, the matter has gone viral.
Fans react to Paul Craig bleaching his hair like Charles Oliveira
There’s just something about MMA sensations getting to newer heights after bleaching their hair. Derek Brunson (now of PFL) notoriously dominated after debuting his bleached phase. Charles Oliveira finished Kevin Lee in 2020 and debuted his blonde hairstyle (more like platinum) along with his whole camp. ‘Do Bronx’ and his magnetic aura have never been the same since. He reintroduced his platinum hairstyle yet again right before UFC 300. thus hyping up fans once more.
Fans like Paul Craig’s resemblance to blonde phenoms Charles Oliveira and Derek Brunson ahead of UFC 301 (Source: ufc.com.br/nypost.com)As for Paul Craig (17-7-1 MMA, 9-7-1 UFC), things might just work out similarly. The middleweight opens up the main card of UFC 301 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) against Caio Borralho. Here’s what fans think of his new hair:
He was like this at Cage Warriors Glasgow the other week.
— Tha Flying Yorkshireman (@ThaFlyingYrkshm) April 30, 2024
Paul Craig is now -10000
— Playoff Madi 🦺👷🏻♂️#LetsGoOilers (@Madi39) April 30, 2024
Now he’s finna tear through the middleweight divison
— Mikey D Baby and the D is for Diabetic (@VaqueroNegro7) April 30, 2024
Oh shit, time to bet the house!
— Nicholas Kreidberg (@niczak) April 30, 2024
I’m sure Charles Olives loves the hair
— Kevin (@realkevink) April 30, 2024
CHARLIE OLIVES 🫒 UNCLE 👊🏻🇨🇦👊🏻
— steve jeffs (@steves_simpson) May 1, 2024
I think bleached hair fighters are on a decent losing streak right now
— Preston Kesselring (@Preston_K41) April 30, 2024
Incoming new blonde Brunson
— What A Bet (@What_a_Bets) April 30, 2024
I see a winning streak coming
— Julian (@JulianMMA100) April 30, 2024
Despite his fairly long career, Craig has opened up a +360 betting underdog for UFC 301. Contrastingly, many fans now quip that this should bolster his rise in popularity. Consequently, one fan even jokes that now he’ll be a -10000 bettor’s favorite. Accordingly, some think, superstitious or not, that Craig will dominate the middleweight roster this year.
However, with Oliveira’s UFC 300 skid, some fans have mentioned that bleach-blonde fighters are on a decent losing streak. Additionally, even ‘Blonde’ Brunson famously left UFC on a 0-2 streak. All in all, the matter has clearly gone quite viral in favor of Craig.
