Paul Daley puzzled Lorenz Larkin next in line, not interested in Michael Page rematch
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Paul Daley showed up to Bellator 232 fight week as expected, but with a different opponent than originally planned.
Originally scheduled to face Sabah Homasi, Daley (41-17-2 MMA, 7-4 BMMA) takes on Saad Awad (23-12 MMA, 11-9 BMMA) in the co-main event of Bellator 232 at a catchweight 175 pounds.
A veteran of 61 professional MMA fights, Daley isn’t fazed by the last-second switch of opponents.
“Sixteen years in the game, I’m just ready to go,” Daley told MMA Junkie at a media day Thursday. “There’s nothing that he’s going to do that I haven’t seen before. I’ve fought every type of fighter that there is. It’s just another fight.”
Daley’s fight against Awad precedes a crucially important fight in the same division. In the Bellator 232 main event, the welterweight grand prix will come to an end, as champion Rory MacDonald and Douglas Lima will compete in a five-round title fight.
At a media day held in New York on Wednesday, Bellator president Scott Coker was asked who the next challenger will be for the winner of MacDonald vs. Lima.
The answer? Lorenz Larkin.
This came as a surprise to some people, including Daley. While Daley put his ultimate faith in his boss, he said Larkin’s number one contender status doesn’t make sense.
“I read that,” Daley said. “I actually read that this morning. I was a bit shocked when I seen that. He came and got knocked out by me. (He) just beat (Fernando) Gonzalez and just beat (Andrey) Koreshkov and now he’s in the position of a title shot. I don’t dislike the guy. I like him. I said I’d give him the rematch.
“But do I think he’s worthy of a title shot with a split decision win over Koreshkov? No. Maybe if he knocked him out in spectacular fashion, then definitely. He was a former champion. But with a split decision over Koreshkov? I’m sure the bossman knows what he’s doing.”
Uninterested in trying to decipher the Bellator matchmaker’s codes, Daley is eying a title shot down the line. One fight he isn’t interested in at the moment however, is a rematch against former rival Michael Page.
The past in the past as far as “MVP” is concerned, Daley said. In Daley’s eyes, he won their Bellator 216 fight despite the official decision going to his opposition. Daley said he’s cool with Page now and there is no need for a rematch at this time.
“I’m not interested in MVP,” Daley said. “He’s a nice guy now that he’s came over. He said, ‘Let’s move forward from where we’re at’. I respect him for coming over to me and saying that, so I’m over that fight. In my opinion I won that fight, so I’ve got not an ounce in me.
“People ask me if I want the rematch. I feel that I won the fight… Even though he landed a front kick and jab, I feel that names were changed. Someone else should have gotten that win, but I’m over that. He’s moving forward. I’m moving forward.”
Bellator 232 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.