British welterweight prospect
Paul Daley (Pictures) sent shockwaves through the fight scene when the 25-year-old announced his intentions to retire from active competition last March due to personal problems. Daley's self exile only appears temporary though, as he's now set to headline at Cage Warriors Fighting Championships "Enter the Rough House 7" on July 12 in his hometown of Nottingham, England.
"We have got
Bojan Kosednar to fight Paul Daley," CWFC fight director Ian Dean told Sherdog.com on Tuesday. "He has a good style and together with Paul, this should guarantee a great scrap."
Kosednar, an undefeated 24-year-old judoka from Slovenia, rose to fame overnight when he defeated Nova Uniao's
Fabricio Nascimento (Pictures) for the Kombat League 170-pound title at an Italia Extreme event three weeks ago. Nascimento, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, had been ranked as high as third in his weight class in Europe before the loss to Kosednar.
Daley, a potent striker himself, is well aware of the credentials his opponent brings.
"He's an undefeated fighter, a champion of Italy and he has fought some tough guys," said Daley. "He looks like a big strong southpaw, but I have an excellent record against lefties. His game looks pretty well rounded and he must be really confident to come to my hometown to fight. I guess it's going to be a tough fight and a grueling match before I knock him out."
Undefeated in his last five fights, Daley has knockout or TKO victories over top German grappler
Daniel Weichel, UFC veterans
Duane Ludwig (Pictures) and
Mark Weir (Pictures), as well as "The Ultimate Fighter" veteran
Sam Morgan (Pictures), who he savagely dropped in the first round at a ShoXC "Elite Challenger Series" event last January in New Jersey.
After four-and-a-half months off the competition circuit, Daley seems to be back with a vengeance.
"I plan to fight as much as possible in the second half of the year. I want to continue to establish myself in the U.S.," said Daley. "I have three fights left with EliteXC and then we'll see. They're really good to me there. I want to fight for the EliteXC welterweight title and defend my Cage Rage world belt three more times to win that out, just like I have done with the Cage Rage British title."
Daley also plans to continue "studying" abroad.
"I'll also continue to travel and train in the U.S., hopefully hooking up with
Brandon Vera (Pictures) this summer to train and then in Holland in late September," he said. "It's been a hard year for me so far for with ups and downs in my personal life. I'm focused and solid again now though. I'm back with Team Rough House training my ass off and climbing back up that mountain."
The main event between two of Europe's premier welterweight fighters is not the only marquee matchup on CWFC's July card. Bodog Fight veteran
Matt Thorpe (Pictures) will test
Joachim Hansen (Pictures)'s undefeated star pupil
Simeon Thoresen (Pictures). The promotion is also organizing two more featured bouts to include another top UK welterweight in
Jim Wallhead (Pictures) and rising lightweight
Andre Winner (Pictures).