Bellator 281 and Nottingham’s Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley finished his career in style on Friday night, weathering a Brazilian storm to score a ‘monster knock-out’ against Wendell Giacomo, a little over four minutes into round two, the 35th of what has been a near, two-decade long, career.
Giacomo took it to the 39-year-old Daley, from the off, the fighter causing problems and showing plenty of strength and good technique in his fight game during the first, and majority of the second round.
Daley though, as has been throughout his career, once he saw the chance, the opening, he would be relentless, and so it proved at his Wembley Arena home.
Unleashing a barrage of haymakers onto a, perhaps surprised Giacomo, Daley did not hold back, and the finishing shot, coming off a left hook into a somewhat vicious, overhand right, KO’s the Brazilian in one shot – it was what the fans, and his family ringside, wanted to see, the perfect finale to a two-decade career.
Daley’s vicious shot saw Giacomo drop to the canvas, the result being timed at a little over four minutes of the second round, and that was that, Daley’s career was finished in the best way possible.
Afterwards, an understandably emotional, and overjoyed, Daley, said: “I’m quite; it’s a pleasure to have all these people here who’ve been supporting me since day one.
“My mum, my family, I love you all because I always say, if it wasn’t for the fans, I wouldn’t be here.
“There’s not another who’s been at the top of the pyramid, fell so far, and still able to have a career for as long as I have, and I put it all down to you guys, so thank you. “
Daley, a former Nottingham Forest junior footballer who played alongside the now BBC Sport pundit, Jermaine Jenas, would go on to win several championships during what would become, a relatively successfully, fight career.
With this being his 64th, and final outing, after near two decades, it would witness the 44th victory, of which 35 of those came via stoppage, ‘Semtex’ indeed, the one against Giacomo, at Wembley, put the exclamation mark on his reputation for doing just that.
In addition to thanking one-and-all, Daley also stated that this, final outing, as being: “The proudest moment it could possibly be, this very night, right here – it was very special. “
Daley, who has fought under the banners of Strikeforce, EliteXC, UFC, Bellator, among others, finishes his MMA career with a 64 fight record of 44-18-2 (35 KOs)
The Official Bellator MMA paid tribute to Daley afterwards, via Twitter:
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A fitting end for @Semtex_170 inside the Bellator cage. An explosive KO to end his 64 fight career!#Bellator281 LIVE on @SHOsports and @bbcthree pic.twitter.com/m65mnN7ThH
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) May 13, 2022
As for ‘Semtex’ it’s thank you, and good night – Nottingham, and the UK, salutes you…
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @MMAFighting Paul Daley bows out in style.
