Daley: Crotch Check a very weird guy

Bellator welterweight knockout artist Paul Daley recently spoke with Steph Daniels and her Amigos for a wide-ranging interview, ahead of his fight on Friday with Dennis Olson at Bellator 140. Between kickboxing and MMA ‘Semtex’ had a remarkable seven fights last year.

Three Amigos: You’re featured on the upcoming Bellator 140 card against Dennis Olson. Give us some insight into what you know about your opponent.

Paul Daley: He’s a tough guy. He’s fought on a lot of regional shows in the States, including a lot of UFC veterans. He has solid wrestling, a solid submission game and he’s a durable guy; he’s been dropped and he keeps coming. I think it’ll be an interesting fight, but I do predict a pretty early stoppage finish for me.

Three Amigos: You’re also scheduled to fight on the Bellator Dynamite card in September. If you had your choice of opponent, who would you pick?

Paul Daley: An ideal fight for me would be someone like Robin van Roosmalen at 170lbs; a guy who is going to stand and trade with me. I think that type of fight would be fantastic. That would be a 50/50 fight and it would be extremely entertaining; neither of us would take a backwards step and we would be throwing punches, kicks and knees the entire time. He would be my ideal guy to fight.

I’ve previously been asked about a bout with Raymond Daniels and although he’s an opponent who can bring some spectacular knockouts, he’s going to be dancing and spinning around and I don’t think he would bring the type of excitement a good solid Mexican-style fighter could. I mean look at your legends like Roberto Duran, guys who would just stand there and hit each other until someone drops. I prefer that to having to chase someone around the ring.

Three Amigos: Josh Koscheck signed with Bellator and he has already started talking about and insulting you. What was your reaction to that?

I think he has some delayed development of the brain. He’s done very well, and that’s very fortunate for him, because if he didn’t do well in this sport who knows what he would be doing? He’s not exactly the brightest of sparks. -British welterweight, Paul Daley discusses Josh Koscheck’s signing with Bellator

Paul Daley: I think Mr Crotch-check has some serious issues. I think he has some delayed development of the brain. He’s just a very weird guy. I commend him for making them money and the name he has in the sport. He’s done very well, and that’s very fortunate for him, because if he didn’t do well in this sport who knows what he would be doing? He’s not exactly the brightest of sparks.

I’m happy that he is with Bellator because a fight with him is huge and it presents a massive opportunity for me. It gives me the chance to receive a massive amount of promotion and would probably be the biggest payday I have received. I’m happy Koscheck is around, as long as he stays at arms-length.

Three Amigos: Do you think guys like Melvin (Manhoef) who have taken quite a few devastating hits pay enough attention to their long term health when they make decisions about whether or not to keep fighting?

Paul Daley: If you’re fighting and competing a little later on in your career and you’re losing by decision or submission, it’s not so bad. I understand that fighting is your profession and you have to compete to bring money in.

From a personal point of view as a friend, I think that Melvin has a family and responsibilities and I can see why he continues to fight, but when you’re losing by bad knockout in MMA and kickboxing, then I think your body is telling you something for your health. It’s not able to withstand the shock to the head anymore. It can’t take that trauma. I think from a safety point of view it’s time to stop, or at least only fight Jiu-Jitsu guys with no knockouts on their record.

Daley is self-managed and added that if anyone does want to sponsor him, they can contact me through his gym website at www.spiritdojo.co.uk.

Read entire interview… (and everything Crooklyn’s ever done 🙂

(45:35 mark)