Say what you will about Paul Daley, but the man has been a must-see attraction for more than a decade, his left hook alone oftentimes worth the price of admission.
Daley will step into a headlining role in Bellator MMA when he faces Andy Uhrich in the Bellator 148main event on Friday at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. While the significance the bout carries in Bellator’s welterweight division remains subject to debate, it nevertheless features one of MMA’s most prolific knockout artists. Of Daley’s 37 professional victories, 27 have come by knockout or technical knockout.
A former Cage Rage champion who has fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Strikeforce and EliteXC, the well-traveled Daley has been on a tear since his surprising decision loss to Alexander Yakovlevin November 2013. The 32-year-old Englishman has strung together four straight wins, three of them finishes. Daley last appeared at Bellator 140 on July 17, when he disposed of Dennis Olson with second-round punches at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Wins over Jorge Masvidal, Martin Kampmann and John Alessio anchor his resume.
Uhrich owns a 1-2 mark in Bellator but has built some momentum in recent months. The 30-year-old will enter the cage on the strength of a three-fight winning streak that includes a split decision overBobby Cooper under the Titan Fighting Championship banner in March. Uhrich appeared on Bellator’s “Fight Master” reality series before an eye injury forced him to bow out of the competition.
With the Daley-Uhrich showdown on the marquee, here is what to watch for at Bellator 148:
LINK: What to Watch For: Bellator 148