Just one month after knocking out Sam Morgan in highlight reel fashion at ShoXC in Atlantic City, Paul “Semtex” Daley stunned the MMA world by recently announcing his future retirement.
Daley left this statement on a message board (via MMAWeekly.com):
“This is for the fighters, fans, promoters and trolls alike. As of now I will be stepping down as Cage Rage Champion (British and world), FX-3 Champion and KOTR champion. I vacate all these titles. Further more I consider my self retired (from all MMA/Thai boxing) as of March 29th. March 29th I will fulfill my contracted commitment for Pro Elite, against a yet unnamed opponent. No speculation, No further announcements, once I’ve found the path I originally set out on in the Martial Arts, I may return to this SPORT, maybe 6 months - maybe 6 years, who knows. Who will be the next welterweight CRC champ? FX-3 champ?…
Thanks
Paul Daley”
At 24 years old, Daley was one of EliteXC’s youngest and brightest stars. Just one month ago he was proclaiming his desire to be the best welterweight fighter in the world and now he’s putting the breaks on a promising young career in the sport.
EliteXC’s welterweight division sure takes a huge hit with this announcement. For a division set to crown its first-ever division champion on March 29 in a match between Jake Shields and Drew Fickett, EliteXC obviously can’t afford to be losing top contenders like Daley.
Daley says he’ll fulfill his contract and fight on March 29 — he doesn’t have an opponent named at this time. Regardless, it’s going to be interesting to see what kind of Paul Daley shows up that night.
Is he gonna be fighting without his heart in it or is he gonna be fighting to make a statement in his last fight? Either way it’ll be worth it too see. We’ll let you know as soon as his opponents announced.
It’s weird that he’s announced his sudden retirement when he’s on the cusp of breaking out. It almost doesn’t seem real. I can’t imagine after March 29 we won’t ever see him fight again.
He’s got too much talent.
16 Comments »
What the??? This is one of the more bizzare occurances as of late (outside of Randy Couture’s resignation). I had just seen Daily fight for the second time when he KO’d Morgan in ShoXC. I was thoroughly impressed with his standup skills. This 24 year old has TONS of potential and charisma (which many of today’s fighters lack), and I was really looking forward to seeing him fight Jake Sheilds.
HOWEVER, he does mention that he may return in 6 months or 6 years, so I don’t consider him done by any means. I am hoping that this is some sort of marketing ploy on his end to possibly renegotiate his current Pro Elite contract, or that he is pulling a “Couture” and “retire/resign” with the intentions to leave your current company only to sign with another. Which I am hoping means that he is retiring until the time on his Pro Elite conract is up and then sign with the UFC as soon as possible.
I can still hope, right?
When I heard this news I was very disapointed. THis kid is one of the most exciting and promising young talents in the world.
Has he lost his mind? Hopefully he eventually returns to fighting. He is young so he has time to take a break and then come back. I really hope that this wont be the last tme seeing this kid compete in MMA.
Props to Mania for showing this kid some love on this site!
I agree with Violent Mike. I think this is just a way out of that Organization. He’s seen Randy do it so now he’s making a move. Could be unhappy fighting talent not on his level, could be financially unhappy or could just be tired of training for opponents who are een name a month before the fight.
He not doing a Randy he is actually finishing out his contract. not like Randy’s bitch ass
This doesn’t make any sense at all, I hope this turns out to BS
He not doing a Randy. He’s actially finishing out his contract then retiring. Not like Randy’s bitch ass. you can bet that we’ll see Paul back hopefully in the UFC
this is a strange move.i read an interview not long ago in which paul stated he wont be going to the ufc for a while yet because he was adamant he wasnt good enough to compete with the best in the world YET. he was instead opting to stay in smaller organisations to refine his ground game(which is his weakest point)and gain more experience against mid tier guys so this is completely off the wall on his part.lets hope it is a marketing ploy because this kid has the potential to be top 10 no doubt maybe even higher.
I think we’ll see Daley back sooner then later. Maybe not under the ShoXC banner, but somewhere. He’s got talent and the potential to make some good money in this sport. He’s got a lot of fights for a guy who’s only 24. He just needs to take a little time off. My prediction is that he will be back by the end of 2008.
Either this is a personal issue or its a publicity stunt. By doing this he’s got everyone talking about him. The next organization that signs him is going to have to pay big now because people are going to tune in to see his return.
WOW, there are only 9 comments here so far??? What’s going on, does nobody else know who Paul Daley is?
This sucks. I hope he’s not serious.
Speechless…
I’m holding out for the publicity stunt theory. Maybe he’s bluffing and will use this as a way to get a higher paid contract as he “will want” more money to get back into it…uhhm uhhm ufc.. I know highly unlikely
He’s probably gonna go off and do an Evan Tanner
[quote comment=”330739″]WOW, there are only 9 comments here so far??? What’s going on, does nobody else know who Paul Daley is?[/quote]
i wasn’t quite sure what i could say that hasn’t been said already. i’m waiting to see how this develops.
He’ll be back, just a PR move
Fight Factory are proud to announce that Paul Daley - Europe’s best pound for pound fighter in the Welterweight division will be giving an MMA seminar.
Seminar will be held at our training premises:
Waveney Sports Centre, Water Lane, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 2NH.
Tel: 01502 569116
Wednesday 7.30pm-9.30pm 3rd December 2008 - details @ http://www.fight-factory.co.uk