Paul Daley is done fighting, for real, with two notable exceptions.
On Friday at Bellator 281 in London, Daley bid a fond farewell to MMA competition as he won the final fight of his career with a second-round knockout of Wendell Giacomo in front of an arena packed with English supporters. It was the 64th fight of Daley’s career and his 44th win.
Daley is near certain that it is the last time anyone will see him fight inside of a cage. “Semtex” appeared on The MMA Hour on Monday, and when discussing what was arguably his most famous fight, a manic one-round clash with Nick Diaz in April 2011, he also answered what fights would get him to reconsider retirement.
“I don’t wish I could get back any fight in terms of changing what’s already happened, 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,” Daley said. Masvidal lost his last fight but Nick Diaz gave me a tremendous fight. I also beat him and hold the “BMF” belt. Those are the ones that if someone came to me and says, ‘Right, what’s going to get you out of retirement?’ Those two fights, that is it. These are my only fights, and I’m sure they will make me the top money .”
Daley battled Diaz and Jorge Masvidal in a span of seven months, first defeating Masvidal by unanimous decision at a Shark Fights event in September 2010 and then challenging Diaz for the Strikeforce welterweight championship the following July. This fight was widely regarded to be one of the best in MMA history. Diaz and Daley rocked out before Diaz won the TKO with just three seconds left in the first round.
As fondly as the bout is remembered, Daley doesn’t like it.
“I don’t like it,” Daley said. “I lost the fight and I knew I could do better. It was a complete disaster. Although we were ready for Nick to talk, he can get hold of us when he begins talking s ***, particularly with me. I am a reactive person, and he talks whatever he wants in the cage. Just make sure to swing. Swing your arms and forget about the leg kicks. The kicking was the plan, but it went as it went.”
Daley, 39, made it clear that he’s satisfied with what he’s done in his MMA career, which included stints with Bellator, UFC, Strikeforce, BAMMA, and numerous other notable promotions, so he’s not pushing for anyone to make fights with Diaz or Masvidal happen.
However, should those rematch opportunities come along, he would sign on without hesitation.
” I’m done but I said those fights,” Daley stated. “Diaz. Masvidal. If those ever materialized, I’d 100 percent be down, but those are the only fights, really the only fights.”
” They’re huge stars and they’d be happy to accept the fight. I think they’re able to do so because they’re from that era and they see it as, “Yeah, Paul was there when we were here.” He is a true fighter and a great dog. He hasn’t got the shine, let me give him a little shine,'” Daley added. They are that kind of person, I feel. Real recognize real is what we say, but I don’t know if they’re tied into any promotions and that would happen. If the chance presents itself, I would take these fights .”
A pioneer of the U.K. MMA scene who made his pro debut in 2003, Daley described his final fight week experience as being a calm one, especially relative to what others may have expected of him. Daley announced in January that Bellator 281 would mark his last appearance in the cage.
Aside from a few bruises and bumps in the road, he is happy with his career.
” Part of me believes it’s because it’s my final fight,” Daley stated about why he was not stressed before his fight. People think that it could be the other kind–I should act differently but I am happy. I’m content. It was a great feeling to be able to enjoy it and know that it was the end. I’ve had a hell of a long time in this sport, been through ups and downs. It’s been draining on me, not just physically but emotionally. I’ve had to keep pushing, keep going, and doing all kinds of s*** just to keep relevant and stuff like that.
“I’m just happy that I did it, I made it. I was able to get through it, according to my sister. Bar the Nick Diaz fight and Douglas Lima I got dropped a couple of times, you’ve never seen me come out bloody, face torn-up, on a stretcher, nothing. I’ve always made it out on my own two feet and looking as sexy as I am now.”
