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#4. Daley vs. Jorge Masvidal 2 - UFC
Although it seems unlikely, Paul Daley's return to the UFC would be quite the story. Dana White issued him a lifetime ban from the promotion after he infamously punched Josh Koscheck after their bout. It was a title eliminator, with the winner challenging then UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.
Since then, ‘Semtex’ has fought all over the world in major promotions. Perhaps it could be a situation where time heals all wounds. The incident occurred 12-years ago and maybe a one-off bout would be feasible. An opponent that would be logical is Jorge Masvidal. The ‘BMF’ title holder would be matched up with an opponent that likes fighting a similar style. It has the makings of being a Fight of the Night and perhaps ending with a highlight-reel knockout.
Both fighters are no strangers to one another. They fought at Shark Fights 13 in 2010, which saw ‘Semtex’ earn a unanimous decision over ‘Gamebred.’ It would be interesting to see what would happen in a rematch at this stage of their careers. Masvidal is one of the UFC’s biggest pay-per-view draws, so it could be a lucrative fight for both.
#3. Daley vs. Former UFC title challenger Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz would be a great opponent for Paul Daley and a bout wouldn’t have to take place in the UFC. The former TUF winner has one fight remaining on his UFC contract and will then be a free agent. He’s been trying to get a fight booked for months, but hasn’t had one come to fruition. Once he is free to negotiate with other promotions, a move to Bellator could be very lucrative.
If he were to sign with Bellator, ‘Semtex’ could be persuaded to return for that fight. He fought Diaz’s brother, Nick Diaz in Strikeforce, which is a bout that’s still talked about. It was an action-packed round that saw Diaz recover from being dropped and knocked out ‘Semtex’ to retain his welterweight championship.
Another positive with Diaz vs. ‘Semtex’ is that it would draw a crowd regardless of venue. Bellator could return to London with that fight as a headliner. Another possible location is San Jose, California, which has always been linked with many of the promotion's high-profile main events.
