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Paul Daley Retiring After March 29th Strikeforce Bout

By Brent Brookhouse

I know this isn't exactly "new news" but we never announced it on this site and somehow it managed to fly under my radar for the few weeks since it was announced.  So for the sake of making sure it hasn't also slipped by everyone else's radar...here we go.

On February 26th MMAWeekly posted the following statement placed on a message board by Paul "Semtex" Daley:

"This is for the fighters, fans, promoters and trolls alike. As of now I will be stepping down as Cage Rage Champion (British and world), FX-3 Champion and KOTR champion. I vacate all these titles. Further more I consider my self retired (from all MMA/Thai boxing) as of March 29th. March 29th I will fulfill my contracted commitment for Pro Elite, against a yet unnamed opponent. No speculation, No further announcements, once I've found the path I originally set out on in the Martial Arts, I may return to this SPORT, maybe 6 months - maybe 6 years, who knows. Who will be the next welterweight CRC champ? FX-3 champ?...

Thanks

Paul Daley

Part of the reason I'm so shocked that this slipped by without my noticing is that I'm a big Daley fan.  He has a boatload of talent and on top of that is only 24 years old.  Beyond the obvious "talented competitor" angle his style was crowd pleasing and could have allowed him to develop into a big star in the States.

Just back in January we were talking about Daley's decision to sign with Elite XC rather than the UFC due to EXC's increased flexibility with regards to exclusivity.  Now he is retiring?

This may be one of the most incredible wastes of talent in a sport that I've ever seen.  On one hand he is going out on his own terms, rather than a Maurice Clarett self destructive waste of talent.  But on the other, it's almost harder to deal with a guy who has always preached wanting to be "the best welterweight in the world" just deciding to quit right when his career seemed to be gaining traction.

The speculation I've seen on various sites ranges from that it is a publicity ploy to Daley's recent broken hand being more serious than just a standard injury.  Whatever the case may be I sincerely hope, as a fan, that we see Daley fighting well past the end of this month.

Update [2008-3-16 18:16:57 by Brent Brookhouse]: Thanks to smoogy who provided a link confirming that Daley is not fighting on the March show.

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