Paul Daley: “I’ve…seen the spark leave the division”
by Paul Daley | source: whoatv.com
Admittedly I was surprised when I watched the media scrum conducted by Dana White in Berlin when my name came up. I was genuinely humbled to hear Lorenzo Fertitta’s stance on my possible return to the UFC being discussed favourably. However, as Dana clearly indicated the decision now rests with him.
Having spent the best part of the last four years away from the UFC, an organisation that, as a mixed martial artist, anyone who has put on a pair of 40z gloves wants to be a part of, it’s given me an opportunity to mature very quickly as a fighter but more importantly as a person. It’s given me time for reflection and introspection and presented an interesting conundrum of how to forge a career as a knock out specialist outside of an organisation, through no ones fault but my own, I’m no longer a part of.
In the time I’ve been away from the UFC, achieving notable success and continuing to light people up I’ve seen the welterweight division swell with incredible fighters. Jonny Hendricks, Matt Brown and Dong Hyun Kim being among those worthy of note. I’ve seen fighters I once looked at with a degree of admiration throw their toys out of the proverbial pram acting like petulant children, Nick Diaz being one of them. I’ve also seen the spark leave the division which is seemingly filled by those content on decision wins rather than decisive knock outs or submissions.