Paul Daley’s negative initial reaction to Zuffa’s purchase of Strikeforce sparked online discussion, but at the end of the day, it appears the British welterweight is staying put in UFC’s newly-minted sister company.
Daley has indeed signed to fight Strikeforce Champion Nick Diaz on April 9, MMAFighting reported this week. Daley, whose last fight inside the Strikeforce cage ended with a highlight-reel knockout of Scott Smith, has emerged as the most anticipated challenger for Diaz in a while.
Though universally-recognized as a talented fighter at 170, Daley earned a ban from the UFC after punching his UFC 113 opponent Josh Koscheck long after the bell had sounded. The fighter, therefore, expressed some online concern about fighting for Strikeforce now that it would share corporate ties with UFC.
“Dana white bans me for life from the UFC, Then buys STRIKEFORCE, and thinks im still gonna be EASY and fight on one of the most anticipated fights of the year? Which will no doubt make ZUFFA/Dana White money,” he wrote shortly after learning about Zuffa’s purchase.