Tag: Paul Daley

Paul Daley Claims Bellator Denied Multiple Opponents for Upcoming Fight Offered

Bellator welterweight Paul Daley is not a happy man with his employer these days after having several opponents denied by the promotion while he attempts to stay busy competing overseas. Daley signed a long-term deal with Bellator in 2012 and was expec…

Bellator welterweight Paul Daley is not a happy man with his employer these days after having several opponents denied by the promotion while he attempts to stay busy competing overseas.

Daley signed a long-term deal with Bellator in 2012 and was expected to be a part of the last welterweight tournament the promotion kicked off earlier this year, but a legal entanglement in his home country of England prevented him from traveling to the United States.

While the British heavy hitter is barred from obtaining a travel visa to get to the United States, he’s done his best to stay busy with other fights outside of Bellator.  Since the situation first arose, Daley has been able to fight twice, winning on both occasions by knockout in the second round.

Bellator has final approval on any fights that Daley takes outside of the promotion because of his contract with them, but it appears his latest request was denied and the former UFC competitor is none too pleased with the decision.

“Just got word Bellator have refused to allow me to fight yet another opponent,” Daley wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday.  “It’s becoming really frustrating that even though they are not my managers, they can approve my fights.

“I’ve got great fights offered to keep me busy fighting and earning, and they seem to want to put a stop to this.  All this while having to pay for my own legal costs on a matter that influence my visa outcome and my ability to fight for Bellator.  It’s bulls—t.”

Daley also confirmed the information later in a message to Bleacher Report, with no resolution in sight to allow him to compete on an upcoming card. 

The embattled welterweight was offered a fight on an upcoming Cage Warriors show in Ireland—a promotion he fought for previously under Bellator contract—but apparently there was no agreement on an opponent.

According to Daley in a later response via his Facebook post, the promotion offered names such as former UFC welterweight Che Mills, Cage Warriors welterweight champion Cathall Pendred, Bruno Carvalho and Benjamin Brinsa, all of whom (according to the fighter) were denied by Bellator.

Bleacher Report did reach out to Bellator about the Daley situation, but representatives said “no comment” on the matter at this time.

A few weeks ago, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney spoke to Bleacher Report about the Daley situation, but sounded unclear if or when he would be able to compete for the promotion again.

“I talk to Paul via email like once a week and we’ve had a couple of conversations with a solicitor (attorney in England), and we’ve had a bunch of conversations with his solicitor in the U.K. Paul cannot get into the United States right now,” Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney told Bleacher Report.  “The United States will not approve his visa because of the charges pending against him. So, right now the answer is no (he will not be in Bellator in 2013). God willing that changes.”

Another interesting note to Daley’s complaint about Bellator is an apparent charge the promotion is levying on any organization employing him for a fight.

“There’s a lot more too,” Daley said via Facebook.  “With regards to other promoters having to pay Bellator a ‘booking fee’ for using me on their shows.  Terrible.”

Needless to say, Daley is disgruntled about the current situation with Bellator, but there’s been no word on how this will play out for now.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Bellator Contract Dispute of the Day: Paul Daley Claims Promotion is Screwing Him From Afar

(Seen here: A typical Bellator contract negotiation.) 

From being outed for their shady drug testing policies by their current welterweight champion, to being outed for their even shadier contract practices by their former lightweight champion, Bellator is coming off as less a legit MMA promotion nowadays and more a venus fly trap that feeds off the desperation of its employees. With more and more fighters publicly trashing the promotion by the day, it seems as if it is only a matter of time before Bellator finds itself completely void of interest from potential clients.

And who is the latest Bellator-employed fighter to publicly disclose the promotion’s crooked business practices, you ask? That would be none other than UFC…ahem..veteran Paul Daley. If you recall, Daley has been struggling to work out some visa issues that may or may not be related to assault charges he may or may not be facing, and has thusly been unable to fight for Bellator since July of 2012. Despite the fact that “Semtex” is of no use to Bellator currently, he is still under contract with the organization, which has in turn allowed them to play ping pong with Daley’s balls. Metaphorically speaking, of course (via Daley’s Facebook):

Just got word Bellator have refused to allow me to fight yet another opponent!!! It’s becoming really frustrating that even though they are not my managers, they can approve my fights.

I’ve got great fights offered to keep me busy fighting and earning, and they seem to want to put a stop to this….all this while, having to pay for my OWN legal costs on a matter that influence my visa outcome…and my ability to fight for the promotion (Bellator) Its bullshit.


(Seen here: A typical Bellator contract negotiation.) 

From being outed for their shady drug testing policies by their current welterweight champion, to being outed for their even shadier contract practices by their former lightweight champion, Bellator is coming off as less a legit MMA promotion nowadays and more a venus fly trap that feeds off the desperation of its employees. With more and more fighters publicly trashing the promotion by the day, it seems as if it is only a matter of time before Bellator finds itself completely void of interest from potential clients.

And who is the latest Bellator-employed fighter to publicly disclose the promotion’s crooked business practices, you ask? That would be none other than UFC…ahem..veteran Paul Daley. If you recall, Daley has been struggling to work out some visa issues that may or may not be related to assault charges he may or may not be facing, and has thusly been unable to fight for Bellator since July of 2012. Despite the fact that “Semtex” is of no use to Bellator currently, he is still under contract with the organization, which has in turn allowed them to play ping pong with Daley’s balls. Metaphorically speaking, of course (via Daley’s Facebook):

Just got word Bellator have refused to allow me to fight yet another opponent!!! It’s becoming really frustrating that even though they are not my managers, they can approve my fights.

I’ve got great fights offered to keep me busy fighting and earning, and they seem to want to put a stop to this….all this while, having to pay for my OWN legal costs on a matter that influence my visa outcome…and my ability to fight for the promotion (Bellator) Its bullshit.

There’s a lot more too…with regards to other promoters having to PAY Bellator a “Booking fee” for using me on there(sic) shows?….

Terrible.

At this point, it’s safe to assume that Jade Bryce and her adorable MMA meme impressions are the only the redeeming points of signing a Bellator contract.

Say what you want about Daley as a person, but at the end of the day, the man needs to fight to make a living. If Bellator is actually denying him that right while simultaneously insisting that he pay out of his own pocket to fight for them (which, given their history, seems likely), then…damn, what the hell, Bjorn? Are you actively trying to turn your public persona into that of The Penguin, or are we just missing out on some crucial information here? RETURN OUR CALLS, GOD DAMN YOU.

We will have more information on this story as it is made available.

–J. Jones

The Top Bad Boys in MMA Today

Who doesn’t love and respect Georges St-Pierre, Randy Couture or Lyoto Machida? Those guys ooze respect, honor and sportsmanship. They seem, by all accounts, great guys and fine ambassadors for the sport.But the world isn’t all smiles and h…

Who doesn’t love and respect Georges St-Pierre, Randy Couture or Lyoto Machida? Those guys ooze respect, honor and sportsmanship. They seem, by all accounts, great guys and fine ambassadors for the sport.

But the world isn’t all smiles and handshakes. The world needs its villains, and MMA is no different.

Who wants to watch the same stagnant clone of a persona take the microphone after brutally pummeling another man into submission every fight?

Bad boys, or rebels if you’d prefer, are a necessary counter the sport’s good guys. They keep the eyes wide and the ears cocked, and they keep butts in seats. If you’ve got your doubts, take a look at this list, and think for a moment about how many of these men are major financial draws.

Begin Slideshow

11 Fighters You Would Want by Your Side in a Bar Brawl This New Year’s Eve

Ever been hit with a pool stick? It’s a terrible, terrible thing for three reasons. First, it’s not entirely likely to knock you unconscious, second it hurts like you wouldn’t believe and third, it splits the scalp wider than a condom…

Ever been hit with a pool stick? It’s a terrible, terrible thing for three reasons. First, it’s not entirely likely to knock you unconscious, second it hurts like you wouldn’t believe and third, it splits the scalp wider than a condom-packed piñata at a frat party. It truly is a nasty experience, and one that’s more likely to occur inside a bar than anywhere else.

Barroom brawls aren’t cool, they’re not what I’d call fun, and if you don’t get your rear end moving fast enough once the dust has settled, they can carry a costly legal toll. In short, they’re not worth taking part in.

I wouldn’t recommend anyone test their physical fortitude in the cramped confines of a packed pub, but from time to time, it just happens. Sometimes it’s tough to avoid the testosterone-driven booze-hound who’s itching for a fight.

I don’t condone illegal fights, and I’m certain none of the men on this list do, either, but it sure would be entertaining to see any one of these 11 fighters tee off on a group of intolerable alcoholics. Feast on this list, just try to argue!

Begin Slideshow

Paul Daley Bar Brawl ‘100 Percent False,’ Visa Issue Nixes Bellator Tourney Bout

Bellator fighter and former UFC welterweight Paul Daley has responded to reports that he has been arrested due to a bar brawl, stating that the claims are false.Initially reported by ESPN, it seemed that Daley was facing up to two years in prison if co…

Bellator fighter and former UFC welterweight Paul Daley has responded to reports that he has been arrested due to a bar brawl, stating that the claims are false.

Initially reported by ESPN, it seemed that Daley was facing up to two years in prison if convicted of the charges.

Moreover, the charges were said to be the main thing barring Daley from leaving England.

However, “Semtex” has gone to his official Facebook profile to clear the air, stating he’s merely having Visa issues that won’t be cleared up in time for the start of Bellator’s next welterweight tournament:

“It seems as though a mass press release has gone out to the MMA media, stating I was involved in a bar brawl, arrested, and cannot obtain a P-1 visa to compete in the USA

…I am currently awaiting a decision on my visa, which is not expected until late April. Which means i am unable to compete in the season 8 Bellator tournament, as it starts in January.

I will be fighting in Europe in the coming months, so I am able to stay active while awaiting a decision on my visa status.

I was not involved in a bar brawl. This is 100% a false statement.”

Still, Daley notably doesn’t address whether or not he was arrested on an assault charge. According to ESPN, a spokesperson from Bellator MMA made the initial announcement about Daley being dropped from the “Season Eight” welterweight tournament.

Either way, it’s bad timing for Daley, as he will miss Bellator’s SPIKE debut on January 17, 2013. This will be Bellator’s first season after their run on the promotion’s official website and MTV2, as SPIKE was contractually unable to show non-UFC content on their channel during the past year.

Before signing with Bellator, Daley had previously fought in the UFC and Strikeforce, being involuntarily cut from the former.

During a UFC 113 title eliminator bout with Josh Koscheck, a frustrated Daley struck Koscheck after the final bell of the third round, frustrated at being controlled by the superior wrestler. UFC president Dana White promptly dropped Daley from the promotion, famously citing that Daley would never fight in the UFC again.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

And Now He’s Fired: Paul Daley Released From Bellator Roster Following Bar Fight Assault Charge [UPDATED]

(And to think, if only Big Dan was at Paul’s side, this whole situation might have been avoided.) 

Good morning, Potato Nation. How was your Christmas? I see that at least a few of you spent it here, arguing about racism, or incomprehensibly ranting about women’s rights, and we thank you for the repeated page views. But if you think you were the only ones whose stockings were stuffed with a bit of vitriol this holiday season, think again, because UFC castaway and all around good guy Paul “Semtex” Daley apparently spent his beating the Christmas spirit out of some local bar patrons.

Sound familiar? According to ESPN’s Josh Gross, Daley has not only been arrested on assault charges stemming from a recent bar fight in his native London, but has been barred from entering the United States until the situation is resolved. This of course means that he will not be participating in Bellator’s upcoming welterweight tournament, although his original opponent, War Machine, had already suffered a leg injury that forced him to postpone their scheduled fight 4 to 6 months. We would say that this is a rather unfortunate turn of events for Bellator, but shit happens when you stack your roster with ex-cons and guys who were thrown out of the UFC for being hotheaded sore losers.

Daley — who could face up to two years in prison if convicted — has yet to make an official statement on the issue, but simply posted the following on the UG:

Rumours. However it seems my next fight will not be for Bellator.

And indeed, Daley has already been booked in the headlining matchup of Cage Contender 16 in Dublin, Ireland on February 23rd. An opponent has yet to be named.

[UPDATE]


(And to think, if only Big Dan was at Paul’s side, this whole situation might have been avoided.) 

Good morning, Potato Nation. How was your Christmas? I see that at least a few of you spent it here, arguing about racism, or incomprehensibly ranting about women’s rights, and we thank you for the repeated page views. But if you think you were the only ones whose stockings were stuffed with a bit of vitriol this holiday season, think again, because UFC castaway and all around good guy Paul “Semtex” Daley apparently spent his beating the Christmas spirit out of some local bar patrons.

Sound familiar? According to ESPN’s Josh Gross, Daley has not only been arrested on assault charges stemming from a recent bar fight in his native London, but has been barred from entering the United States until the situation is resolved. This of course means that he will not be participating in Bellator’s upcoming welterweight tournament, although his original opponent, War Machine, had already suffered a leg injury that forced him to postpone their scheduled fight 4 to 6 months. We would say that this is a rather unfortunate turn of events for Bellator, but shit happens when you stack your roster with ex-cons and guys who were thrown out of the UFC for being hotheaded sore losers.

Daley — who could face up to two years in prison if convicted — has yet to make an official statement on the issue, but simply posted the following on the UG:

Rumours. However it seems my next fight will not be for Bellator.

And indeed, Daley has already been booked in the headlining matchup of Cage Contender 16 in Dublin, Ireland on February 23rd. An opponent has yet to be named.

[UPDATE]

From Daley’s Facebook:

It’s seems as though a mass press release has gone out to the MMA media, stating I was involved in a bar brawl, arrested, and cannot obtain a P-1 visa to compete in the USA. 

…I am currently awaiting a decision on my visa, which is not expected until late April. Which means i am unable to compete in the season 8 Bellator tournament, as it starts in January. 

I will be fighting in Europe in the coming months, so I am able to stay active while awaiting a decision on my visa status. 

I was not involved in a bar brawl. This is 100% a false statement.

While we’re not prepared (or informed) enough to call Daley a liar, something definitely smells fishy here. For starters, Daley has competed several times in the US before without Visa issues, so the fact that he’s suddenly run into said issues cannot mean anything positive. And as one person stated on Daley’s Facebook, where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. But again, if we’re using Chad Mendes as a measuring stick, then the charges against Daley may very well have been exaggerated by the media sources who originally reported it. On the other hand, note that Daley said he was never involved in a bar brawl, NOT that he wasn’t facing assault charges.

Daley’s manager, Wad Alameddine, also stated that Paul plans on fighting for Bellator following his February fight, but we will keep you informed as details are made available.

–J. Jones