Issue 153
April 2017
Paul Daley hits 2017's first knockout of the year contender.
If there’s been one thing missing from Bellator’s big shows, it’s those ‘Bellator moments’ that used to highlight every card.
An amazing highlight of such an unbelievable finish, it went viral across the online MMA community. Finally, in front of the biggest Spike audience for a year, British welterweight Paul Daley delivered one, adding to 7-1 Daley’s Bellator record.
He reminded the world that he’s one of the most dynamic finishers with 74% of Daley’s 39 wins, 29 are by knockout, in MMA with a sensational flying knee KO of Brennan Ward.
Acting as the co-main event at Bellator 170 in Los Angeles, Daley and Ward was never likely to go the full three rounds.
21-3 Daley’s kickboxing record contains 14 wins by KO
The pair boast a combined 38 career knockouts. But when it comes to a firefight, the Brit is light years ahead in terms of skill and concussive power.
After rocking Ward early on with a left hook that straightened his legs. Ward landed a takedown but Daley was back on his feet moments later – and hitting home with a spinning right elbow as he broke free from the clinch.
It was the beginning of the end, which came just a couple of seconds later.
As Ward stumbled backwards, Daley launched himself into the air and landed a perfectly-timed flying knee that landed cleanly on Ward’s jaw and put him straight to sleep.
There was no need for any followup punches. Rory MacDonald can’t afford to underestimate that kind of destructive force.
TWO TIME
This was Daley’s second flying knee KO. The first was against Patrick Vallee at Cage Contender 16 in February 2013.
13-5: finishes and decisions at Bellator 170.
KO CONCERN
“I genuinely like the guy – I hope Brennan Ward is OK. We’ve spent time together here at Bellator,”
REMORSE
“After the win I’m running around and celebrating, then I look across and see his girlfriend crying – and that made it hard.”
NOT QUITE THE QUICKEST
Daley’s fastest KO was in 2004: against Lee Doski at UKMMAC 6.
0:36 Jalin Turner had the night’s fastest finish on Gabriel Green.
CALL-OUT
Daley had a succinct message for Rory MacDonald after the fight: “He’s getting knocked the f**k out.”
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