Talk about not waiting around to set up your next fight.
Paul Daley never really got his offence going when he welcomed Rory MacDonald to the Bellator cage for the first time.
MacDonald, competing outside the UFC for the first time this decade, coasted to victory over Nottingham’s Daley in the main event of Bellator 179 on Friday night.
Wisely avoiding the terrifyingly heavy hands of the aptly nicknamed ‘Semtex’, MacDonald outgrappled Daley before securing a second round rear naked choke in London’s Wembley Arena.
.@rory_macdonald backstage polishing his weapon before he goes to battle in London! #Bellator179 pic.twitter.com/CVoCq5z7xc
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 19, 2017
Likely disappointed that he didn’t get one of the wars with which he is synonymous, MacDonald will have to make do with the 170lbs title shot that awaits him following his win.
Daley, meanwhile, wasted no time in trying to set up his next fight as he seemingly confronted his fellow countryman, Michael ‘Venom’ Page while returning to the backstage area.
MMA Junkie reporter Chamatkar Sandhu captured the altercation, which lasted all of ten seconds before being broken up.
Wow. Paul Daley just went for Michael Page in the front row and they had a scuffle. Pandemonium. #Bellator179 pic.twitter.com/hhA2usDDgN
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) May 19, 2017
Aftermath of the Daley-MVP scuffle. #Bellator179 pic.twitter.com/hB7OR0678y
— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) May 19, 2017
Security ushered Daley away from the scene but he was clearly still fired up.
An all-British showdown between Daley and MVP would certainly make sense for Bellator, now more than ever, and the build-up would guarantee some animosity-filled exchanges.
Page was scheduled to compete at Bellator 179 but was forced to withdraw from his match-up with Derek Anderson after picking up a knee injury.
Daley would represent the most high-profile opponent of Page’s to date while ‘Venom’ has the kind of hype behind him that would entice Daley into agreeing to the fight.
The most unfortunate aspect of the whole incident is that the post-fight scuffle will likely overshadow the Bellator debut of one of the greatest welterweights walking the planet.
But, to be fair, Rory MacDonald has never been one to pursue publicity so he probably won’t be all that bothered.
