When Bellator 148 was initially announced by the promotion, it was billed as the promotional debut of Josh Koscheck in the main event and the co-main event would feature Paul Daley.
However, Koscheck recently pulled out of the event due to an undisclosed injury suffered in training and Daley will now headline the fight card coming from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California against Andy Uhrich.
So how does Daley (37-13-2) feel about headlining an event in Koscheck’s backyard of Fresno, California? Simply put, he finds the situation weird and bizarre.
“It’s very weird. I am like, ‘hashtag, where is Josh Koscheck?’ What, is he nervous? Does he know that I was going to be the co-main event and outshine his boy in wrestling,” Daley told The MMA Report. “Blanket type performance. Is he trying to get some extra time in before we eventually meet? Is he afraid of losing? It’s a weird situation.”
“I see myself fairly as a simple and laid back guy,” Daley continued. “Coming from a little city named Nottingham. Traveling all of the way to California to headline a fight show when their hometown boy is arguably one of the most recognizable faces and names in MMA. Why am I traveling all the way over there to headline a card in his hometown? It’s just a real bizarre thing but at least his fans will be entertained like I say. I will show them how things are supposed to be done.”
While many fans and observers of the sport want to see the potential rematch between Daley and Koscheck, Daley knows he has to worry about the task at hand and that is Andy Uhrich. The betting odds for this fight are not currently available, but Daley is expected to be a massive favorite and nearly everyone expects to see “Semtex” continue his winning ways.
“The fight that everyone expects him to lose and the fight that he knows and sees as such a massive opportunity. I never take any fight lightly because I will say this again, every fighter that I fight is going to be the best version of themselves,” Daley explained. “They are going to prepare extremely hard because I am a dangerous opponent that knocks people out. I am a big name in the sport of mixed martial arts. It’s a big opportunity for people to fight me.”
“Every person that I fight. Prior to the fight, unless they come from the same experience like myself says that they are going to shock the world. Says that they are happy that they are the underdog. Says all of this stuff that I have heard before. Whether they say they are going to shock the world or whatever they say. They are expected to lose. They can try their best. They can be their best. They can truly believe they are going to shock the world but at the end of the day, they will lose. It’s going to be the same with Andy. He will lose and I respect that he is going to prepare well. I respect that he believes he is going to stun the world because I would expect nothing less as a fighter.”
A win over Uhrich next Friday night would improve Daley to 4-0 in the Bellator cage and it would be his fifth win in a row. If that happens, what could be next for him? A title shot in the Bellator welterweight division or a potential big money fight with Koscheck?
“Who knows? That is a good question,” Daley stated. “You should direct that one to [Bellator President] Scott Coker and the guys at the top. For me, I would like to fight for the title. This win that I get when I beat Andy, I will be 5-0. I am going to stop Andy, so that will be four stoppages out of the five. I am an entertaining guy. I can deal with the limelight and hold down the top position. I think I would represent the company well as the champion. I am ready to take the opportunity and beat the Russian up. But I am also prepared to carry the promotion in the U.K. and fight Josh Koscheck if that is the fight they want to put on over here. I am prepared man. I am just here to fight, get paid and continue my current form.”