Every front has a back. For every thrilling highlight reel KO, there is damage. That was particularly the case at Bellator 170.
Paul Daley landed a KO of the year candidate vs. Brennan Ward in the co-main event of Bellator 170, which took place Saturday in Inglewood, California.
It represented a tremendous comeback for Daley, who lost a decision to Douglas Lima in July. Early in the fight Ward controlled the action with wrestling against the cage, but when Daley was able to separate himself, he took full advantage:
https://twitter.com/FancyCombat/status/823023303216533505
The clip will undoubtedly be replayed all year, but it left Ward on a stretcher, transported to the hospital. This is what his face looked like.
Paul Daley's flying knee did a real number on Brennen Ward's face. I'm going to go cry now. pic.twitter.com/ejauEYb6Eg
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) January 22, 2017
“>January 22, 2017
The other side of a highlight reel KO was not lost on Daley, who likes Ward.
Me and Brennan, we were hanging out a lot prior to this fight at all of the other events, said Daley at the post-fight press conference, as transcribed by Dann Stupp for MMAjunkie. His last last victory, over Saad Awad [at Bellator 163], I sat ringside with girlfriend and his family and coaches, and I was celebrating with them. So it was a difficult situation for me at first to fight him.
To get a victory, it was kind of mixed emotions. The first two minutes was running around like a headless chicken and going crazy. And then I look across, and I see his girlfriend, and she’s crying. It was hard. I just hope he’s OK.
Daley hopes to fight again soon, barring I don’t don’t drink too much vodka tonight. He mentioned Douglas Lima, Benson Henderson, and above all Rory MacDonald as fighters he hopes to face next.
