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English mixed martial arts star Paul “Semtex” Daley retired from the sport on May 13; however, a fight with UFC star Jorge Masvidal would bring him back, he said.
Daley (43-18-2) received a hero’s welcome upon entering the cage during Bellator 281 in London for what was billed as his retirement bout. And in a storybook ending, Daley starched Wendell Giacomo (9-3), knocking him out in the second round. The crowd at SSE Arena erupted as Semtex officially notched the 35th KO/TKO of his professional career.
And although the knockout seemed a perfect way to close the book on his career, Daley, 39, gave two names that would motivate him enough to return to combat: Masvidal and Nick Diaz.
“I don’t wish I can get back any fight in terms of changing what’s already happened,” Daley said on the May 16 episode of “The MMA Hour.” But, I think if I was to pick a fight to have a rematch, it would definitely be Nick Diaz or [Jorge] Masvidal. Because they’re the ones that have turned into pay-per-view stars and I could get the most money from.
“Nick Diaz was a great fight and I beat Masvidal, and he holds the BMF belt, even though he’s lost his last fight or so,” Daley told “The MMA Hour” host Ariel Helwani, referring to the profanity-laced belt designed for UFC 244. “Those are the ones that if someone came to me and said, ‘What’s going to get you out of retirement?’ Those two fights. That’s it, those are the only two fights that would pull me out.”
Both combatants are under contract with UFC, which banned Daley for life in 2010 after he punched Josh Koscheck after the bell at UFC 133. It’s unclear whether UFC president Dana White would be open to doing business again with Daley. In 2014, White said, “It’s just one for those hard things to forgive,” according to a story in Bleacher Report.
Daley & Masvidal Fought Over a Decade Ago With Daley Winning By Unanimous Decision
Back in September 2010, Daley and Masvidal fought during Shark Fights 13.
And as history has it, Daley defeated the future two-time UFC title challenger via unanimous decision. The match was Daley’s second after the UFC had cut him earlier that year.
Diaz & Daley Fought in One of the Most Electric One-Round Fights Ever
Diaz and Daley met in the Strikeforce cage on April 9, 2011, when Diaz was the promotion’s welterweight champion. And although the fight lasted less than one round, it was one of the most exciting fights in MMA history.
Each fighter dropped the other, with the momentum of the fight switching back and forth throughout. Seconds before the round ended, Diaz caught Daley and did enough to put him away, earning the win via TKO.
Watch the electric clash above.
Daley Said He Wanted to Be a Fighter Who Went Out on Their Own Terms
Daley was featured on “The MMA Hour” back in January as well to talk about his final walk to the cage.
“It will be my retirement fight,” Daley told Helwani on January 31. “After many years in the game, the hours on the road, hours in the gym, the years have caught up with me and now every morning I wake up with a bad back, and I’m just tired.
“I’ve put in a lot of time in the sport and I’m in a position to retire, fortunately. So yeah, I’m going to retire. I don’t want to be one of those fighters who’s getting knocked out all the time by the younger guys. I want to be a guy who goes out when I want to go out.”
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