UFC Veteran Paul Daley Signs With Bellator Fighting Championships

Paul "Semtex" Daley

Striker Daley inks multi-fight deal with Bellator

Former UFC welterweight contender and Strikeforce veteran Paul Daley is ready for a change of scenery.

The knockout artist has signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator Fighting Championships after a release from Strikeforce.

Daley is expected to debut with the promotion at Bellator 72, which is part of the promotion’s “Summer Series.”

Last competing at “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey,” Daley walked away from the fight, and ultimately the promotion, with a split-decision loss. Following that contest, Daley was adamant about earning a release from the promotion, citing the inability to fight as often as he would like as the greatest factor.  Strikeforce executives soon after decided to cut the welterweight.

During his time with the promotion, the fighter nicknamed “Semtex” won only two contests, defeating Scott Smith and Duane Ludwig via knockout. He would go on to lose to Nick Diaz in a welterweight title fight and to Tyron Woodley in a contenders bout.

However, Daley’s Strikeforce career was hardly his breakthrough into the mainstream. He competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, debuting against Martin Kampmann at UFC 103 with a technical knockout win. He would follow that up with a brutal knockout win over Dustin Hazelett at UFC 108 before his career with the promotion came to a brutal end against Josh Koscheck at UFC 113. A cheap shot after the final bell triggered the Brit’s release.

Bellator 72 takes place in Florida on July 20 and is headlined by a welterweight tournament finale between Karl Amossou and Bryan Baker. No opponent has been named for the striking ace.

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