Paul Daley is a guy you don’t want to sleep on. After being totally outclasses by Rory MacDonald in May Daley came into Bellator 183 last night as a pretty big underdog to former Bellator welterweight title contender Lorenz Larkin. Larkin and Daley got into at the weigh ins on Friday and had to be seperated by Bellator officials.
Once the fight Larkin dominated the first round after Daley slipped and fell to the mat trying to land a kick. Larkin was looking to coast to a decision win over the cocky British fighter once he got him on the mat and looked to get him back down there in later rounds. However, it didn’t work out like that as Daley caught Larkin with his hands down halfway through the second round and unleashed a combination that sent the his opponent to the mat.
With the win Daley improves his record to 40-15 and has won two out of his last three fights. After the vicious knockout “Semtex” called out another up and coming Bellator star, Michael Page.
“A little young boy called ‘MVP’ that has been talking. Get that little punk in here with me. He’s getting knocked out, as well.”
MVP vs Daley has been talked about for a year or so by Bellator. Scott Coker seemed to want to do it earlier this year but Daley got matched up with Rory MacDonald instead. Page knocked out Fernando Gonzalez last November and has yet to compete in 2017. MVP is one of the most exciting fighters on the Bellator roster but the knock on him is that he hasn’t faced serious competition like Daley has. Daley and Page are natural rivals, both with heavy hands and big mouths who know how to sell a fight. Eventually the fight will happen. There are rumblings that Bellator wants to do a pay per view later this year or early 2017. MVP-Daley would have to be on it if Coker can put it together.
Roy Nelson also made his Bellator debut at Bellator 183. “Big Country” won a unanimous decision over Jay Ayala. If Bellator does a pay per view you would have to imagine Nelson would be featured as well. Bellator has quietly been signing former UFC stars and the best way to capitalize on their name recognition would be to have a pay per view. Spike TV events are great but Coker wants to take the promotion to the next level. Guys like Nelson, Daley, MVP as well as Chael Sonnen, Wanderlei Silva and Matt Mitrione are going to be used on big cards, not free Spike TV shows.