Real Reason Behind Paul Craig’s Nickname ‘Bearjew’: Is He Jewish?

What comes to your mind when you hear the name ‘Bearjew’? For pop culture enthusiasts, it would be Eli Roth’s character, Sgt. Donny Donnovitz from Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds. But for MMA fans, it would be Scotland’s Paul Craig. It’s a name that sparks curiosity, fuels speculation, and even raises questions about his religion.

The Scotsman has never given a straight answer. Fans have asked. Journalists have pressed. Yet Craig keeps the real story locked away in the gym. Is it tied to his fighting style? His heritage? Or is it just a clever nod to pop culture? Let’s unpack what we know.

Is Paul Craig Jewish? Background & religion

What is Paul Craig’s religious belief? Is he Jewish? That’s a question fans have asked for years. The answer is simple, no, Paul Craig is not Jewish. Despite his “Bearjew” nickname, there’s no connection to Judaism or any religious symbolism. The moniker is purely coincidental.

So, where is Paul Craig really from? The UFC star as Scottish as they come. Born on November 27, 1987, in Airdrie, Scotland, Craig wears his roots like a badge of honor. His accent, his warrior paint, and his personality all scream Scottish pride.

Before twisting limbs inside a cage, Craig lived another life. He worked as a high school teacher, played and coached football, and even co-hosts a podcast called Leather’d with fellow fighters Chris Bungard and Ross Cooper.

But Paul Craig’s real edge comes from his grappling. A black belt under Brian Gallacher, he claimed multiple BJJ titles between 2013 and 2015. One highlight? Placing third in the Absolute Purple division at the 2015 Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship. That technical base has defined much of his MMA career.

And while religion may not explain “Bearjew,” his roots and fighting style certainly keep the mystery alive. Which brings us to the bigger question

Why is Paul Craig called ‘Bearjew’?

Many have tried to nudge Paul Craig to find the story behind the fighter’s moniker. But none have succeeded so far. Back in 2017, ‘MMA News’ tried hard to know the history behind the nickname, but to no avail. The former BAMMA world light heavyweight champion stood adamant and simply refused to even give a hint at the origin story. 

One reason behind the nickname could be hiding in the fighter’s style. With his base rooted in grappling, with a BJJ black belt to add to the name, the fighter could be compared to a bear. Craig has often displayed phenomenal ground control, winning fights with armbars, rear-naked chokes, and triangle chokes, with the triangle choke being the most frequent.

This, in fact, comes really close to justifying his moniker. But this is just one of the many speculations, waiting to be confirmed by the fighter. 

As per the official UFC website, the origin of his nickname is written as a “closely guarded gym secret.” Craig has always refused to talk about his nickname and hence attracted quite a lot of attention to it. Without a doubt, the fans all around the world are pretty curious about the story. But with it being a ‘gym secret’, only a select few know the real story.

Craig can be easily compared with a giant bear. Not just because of his being a towering Scotsman and for his fighting style, but also because of his size. It is quite normal for people to assume that the moniker might mean the fighter resembles a bear. To many fans’ surprise, ‘Bearjew’ isn’t actually Jewish. Another possibility could point towards Quentin Tarantino’s well-appreciated movie, ‘Inglorious Basterds,’ wherein, the baseball bat-wielding character, played by Eli Roth, was named ‘Bear Jew’.

One thing’s for sure, the nickname isn’t going anywhere. It’s stamped onto his career, and it’s a story only he can truly reveal. Until then, we’re left to speculate while he prepares for his next battle, this time against Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Paris!