Daley Apologizes to Koscheck, UFC, Fans

After returning home to the U.K. following his UFC 113 loss to Josh Koscheck, Paul Daley has apologized for striking his opponent after the bell.

Koscheck’s wrestling and top control had stifled Daley in a bout that determined the next challenger for champion Georges St. Pierre’s welterweight title. Referee Dan Miragliotta separated the fighters when time expired, but Daley pursued Koscheck and hit him with a left hook.

UFC President Dana White said at the postfight news conference that Daley would never fight in the UFC again as a result of the punch.

“I’ve had a long flight home to consider my actions and regret the mistake I made on Saturday,” Daley said in a statement published by the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph. “I would like to apologise to the UFC and the Athletic Commission for what I’ve done as well as all the fans and sponsors that support me.

“I would also like to offer my sincerest apologies to Josh Koscheck who did not deserve the cheap shot I threw. He did what he needed to do in order to win the fight and get the job done, and I foolishly reacted to the situation.

“There is no excuse for my actions and I know what I did was very unprofessional. I was immensely frustrated by a collection of things that took place throughout the fight as well as leading up to it, but I’m certainly not trying to condone or excuse my actions.

“Josh implemented his game plan perfectly taking me down and staying on top of me for the majority of the fight. I was also frustrated about him claiming (and acting like) I knee’d him in the head on the ground when it was clear for all to see in the video replay that I didn’t connect at all with the knee I threw.

“Then finally, the verbal abuse Josh hit me with in the final 30 seconds of the fight simply pushed me over the edge and my frustrations came out as I knew I’d lost the fight, was unhappy with my own performance and had then been ridiculed by my opponent to top things off.

“This is certainly no excuse for my actions; I fully deserve to be punished for what I did and hope that everyone I have disappointed can forgive my rash decision. I feel very disappointed in myself for losing my cool and hope that I am able to address my temperament and bounce back from this low point in my career.

“I feel ashamed and embarrassed by what I did and hope that together my team and I can get through this issue. It will be a long road back from where I am now to earning the trust and respect of the UFC and the MMA fans that have supported me for so long, I know I’ve let you all down but I’m determined to make it up to you all.”