Paul Daley, as most of us know, is not the best fighter in the world when it comes to making weight.
Since 2010, Daley has missed a regulated weight four times, in bouts against Dustin Hazelett, Jorge Masvidal, Yuya Shirai and Jordan Radev. He’s done so in three different companies: the UFC, Shark Fights and BAMMA.
That makes it all the more curious why Daley has chosen to sign with Bellator Fighting Championship and start fighting in their signature tournaments. Daley was granted his release from Zuffa-owned Strikeforce last week.
From MMAFighting.com’s Mike Chiappetta:
Bellator continued its aggressive plunge into the free agent pool, signing UFC and Strikeforce veteran Paul Daley.
The promotion confirmed the addition of the British knockout artist to MMA Fighting on Friday.
Daley will make his organizational debut at Bellator 72 on July 20.
The news is interesting because participants in Bellator tournaments must be capable of making weight every four weeks or so over the duration of the tournament. Daley hasn’t been able to shed pounds even when he has eight weeks to prepare. Attempting to do the same thing once a month sounds like a recipe for disaster.
I’m not saying Daley isn’t capable of making weight. He’s done so more times than not over the course of his career.
But he’s going to have to dedicate himself to the cause. Take the time before his actual tournament debut—which won’t be his July 20 organizational debut—and shed weight.
He needs to get to a manageable level and stay there during the entirety of the tourney.
If he doesn’t, he won’t end up embarrassing himself. He’s proven over the past few years that doing his part and making weight isn’t all that important to him. But he’ll end up embarrassing Bellator if he comes into the tournament, makes it to the finals and then comes in overweight.
Nobody wants that.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com