Paul Daley wants to trade with Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 183: ‘I’m the most prolific knockout artist in MMA’

Bellator MMA will take over the combat sports weekend tomorrow night (Sat., Sept. 23, 2017) when Bellator 183 lights up the SAP Center live on Spike TV from San Jose, California. Outside of a main event clash between lightweight title hopefuls Benson Henderson and Patricky Pitbull, as well as the Bellator debut of former UFC heavyweight Roy Nelson, welterweight juggernauts Paul Daley and Lorenz Larkin will square off in a sure-fire main card throwdown.

Daley, who was recently submitted by Rory MacDonald back at Bellator 179 this past May, remains one of the promotion’s most prized finishers. The 33-year-old veteran has captured his last three Bellator victories by way of knockout and is looking to continue the trend against Larkin this weekend.

“I never even recognized this guy until he got to the UFC and until I started looking back at his fights in preparation for this fight and I was like, ‘Oh sh*t, he was in Strikeforce while I was there,’” Daley said of Larkin in a recent interview with MMA Fighting. “He didn’t really figure into my thoughts.

“I don’t really see him as an enemy, like any guy that I’ve ever stepped in the cage with. I’m just ready to fight September 23, I just hope he stands. I know he’s a standup guy from what I can see and I know the fans are desperate for me to fight a guy that is just going to stand there. We don’t mind if we’re bashed around a little bit, but just stay on your feet and let the fans get what they look forward to when ‘Semtex’ is fighting, which is a knockout. I believe I am the most prolific and the best knockout artist in all of mixed martial arts in any weight class.”

While “Semtex” is understandably going to have his hands full with Larkin at Bellator 183, the 14-year veteran has his sights set on another elite welterweight. But considering his desired rematch consists of a fighter currently competing outside of Bellator, Daley may have a hard time getting his wish.

“Tyron Woodley, I’d love to have a rematch with him,” Daley said. “I think we had a good fight.

“All props to him, in every interview that he mentions the guys he’s fought, he always mentions my name and not a lot of fighters do that. I know I gave him a good fight, I know he respects my abilities, and he’s one of the top-tier fighters so I would love to rematch Tyron Woodley.”

First things first, Daley must get past the hard-hitting Larkin this weekend in San Jose to regain the divisional momentum he lost after getting handily finished by MacDonald earlier this year. But if Daley is able to shine in the spotlight once more, maybe he can one day make another run under the UFC lights and work his towards a rematch with “Chosen One.”