Daley vs. Awad set as new Bellator 232 co-main event

Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Swapping out one potential slugfest for another. There’s been a late change to this Saturday’s Bellator 232 card in Connecticut.
Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed on Monday th…

MMA: APR 21 Bellator 178

Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Swapping out one potential slugfest for another.

There’s been a late change to this Saturday’s Bellator 232 card in Connecticut.

Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed on Monday that an undisclosed injury has forced welterweight Sabah Homasi out of his co-main event against Paul Daley. In his place (at a 175 lbs catchweight) is Saad Awad, someone who’s not shy to stand and trade.

Awad (23-12) was obviously eager to get back into the cage after suffering a quick armbar loss to Goti Yamauchi at Bellator 229 earlier this month. He’s on a three-fight losing skid, with his other defeats coming against Brandon Girtz and Benson Henderson. Known for his knockout power, Awad’s best win was his 43-second wipeout of Will Brooks back in 2013, which was considered a big upset at the time.

Daley (41-17-2) is known for many all-action battles, and he most recently prevailed by unanimous decision over Erick Silva in June. He was, however, eliminated from this year’s welterweight grand prix after a decision loss to Michael Page in one of the worst high-profile bouts in recent memory. The former UFC and Strikeforce fighter is 7-4 inside the Bellator cage, most notably knocking out both Lorenz Larkin and Brennan Ward in 2017.

Bellator 232 takes place on October 26th and is headlined by the welterweight grand prix tournament final between reigning champion Rory MacDonald and former champ Douglas Lima, whom MacDonald beat last year to become the new king of Bellator’s 170 lbs division. The entire card will stream exclusively on DAZN.