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Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

UFC Buys Strikeforce: Paul Daley Unhappy, Suggests Back Out Of Fight With Nick Diaz

Strikeforce fighter reactions are slowly beginning to pour in. First and foremost, Paul Daley. After being banned from the UFC for life (or until he's not banned for life anymore) for sucker punching Josh Koscheck at UFC 113, the British striker has rattled off four wins, two of which in Strikeforce. One of those, against Scott Smith, was as thrilling as it was redemptive. It also put him on a title shot course with Nick Diaz for their April 9th bout.

Or did it. Daley had this to offer on Facebook:

Business as usual, what if i dont wanna fight for DANA WHITE/ZUFFA?......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 (vs Diaz)? Which will no doubt make ZUFFA/Dana White money.
Daley vs Diaz still on?.....Someone better holla at my manager real quick.

Could there possibly be a more misguided decision than this? Rather than buoy his career with defining performances against key competition - thereby making a renegotiation with the UFC much more likely - he prefers scorched earth.

Without relevant options that can match the lucrative returns UFC or Strikeforce, Daley is committing something approximating career suicide.

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