MacDonald vs. Daley at Bellator London on May 19
Semtex vs. Red King in London at Bellator 179 in May.
Unfortunately for Michael ‘Venom’ Page, who had mounted a compelling social network campaign for a fight with striker Paul Daley, ‘Semtex’ will instead face Rory MacDonald.
BREAKING! Our return to London will be headlined by #PaulDaley vs @rory_macdonald May 19th at @ssearena! #Bellator179 @spike pic.twitter.com/gz31vNN0aF
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) February 9, 2017
Daley is coming off a flying knee KO of the year contender vs. Brennan Ward at Bellator 170 on Jan. 21 in Inglewood, California. Afterward he called out MacDonald. And his wish came true.
MacDonald is coming off a decision loss to Stephen Thompson in June of 2016 at UFC Fight Night 89. The fight before that was a candidate for fight of the ever in July of 2015. He opted to run out his UFC contract and try free agency, eventually signing with Bellator MMA, in arguably the promotion’s biggest signing.
The promotion is now using the new talent in an excellent striker vs. striker matchup. While MacDonald will undoubtedly be the favorite, there are questions about whether a fight as brutal as the Lawler rematch left him half a step back, so the only thing that can be counted on with some certainty is that the fight won’t go to decision.
Having said that, a decision is now all but guaranteed.
