Furious Dana White handed fighter lifetime UFC ban for disgraceful behavoir after loss
02/24/2025 08:23 AM
Paul Daley’s infamous fight with Josh Koscheck is back in the news almost 15 years later.
MMA fans called for a 0-2 fighter to be cut for pushing his opponent post-fight at UFC Seattle.
UFC boss Dana White dismissed the scuffle as “nothing” during a press conference after the event.
But he had a very different reaction when Daley took things one step further at UFC 113 in May 2010.
Furious Dana White fired Paul Daley for sucker punch
Paul Daley and Josh Koscheck were embroiled in a heated war of words ahead of their welterweight clash.
When they finally fought, the British KO artist was dominated on the ground for three rounds by Koscheck.
Before the American wrestler’s unanimous decision win was announced, Daley walked up to him and landed a disgusting sucker punch in a shocking moment that UFC commentator Joe Rogan described as “terrible”.
Dana White was so furious about the incident he immediately handed Daley a lifetime ban from the UFC.
"He's done," White said during a post-fight press conference.
"I don't give a s— if he's the best 170-pounder in the world. He'll never come back here again.
"There's no excuse for that. These guys are professional athletes. You don't ever hit a guy blatantly after the bell like that, whether you're frustrated or not. It was probably one of the dumbest things I've ever seen because he is a talented guy, and he is one of the best 170-pounders in the world.
"I don't care if he fights in every show all over the world and becomes the best and everybody thinks he's the best pound-for-pound best in the world, he will never fight in the UFC ever again. Done!”
Where is Paul Daley now?
White stuck to his word and never re-signed Daley, who went on to become a British MMA legend.
‘Semtex’ had 30 more fights in several MMA promotions, including Strikeforce and Bellator.
Jorge Masvidal, Erick Silva, and Lorenz Larkin are just some of the fighters he beat after his UFC release.
Daley also shared the cage with Nick Diaz, Rory MacDonald, and Michael ‘Venom’ Page before retiring in 2022.
Many legends are rushing back to fighting to cash in on the crossover craze started by Floyd Mayweather.
So far, Daley has managed to make his retirement stick despite receiving lucrative comeback offers.
"In my head, I'm finished with all combat sports. There's always enticing offers that come out the woodwork, but for me, I'm thinking the whole fight thing is done," Daley told talkSPORT before his retirement fight.
"I'm a guy with no ego. If worst comes to worst and what I've got planned doesn't work out, I'll get myself a weekend job at [UK supermarket] Tesco and stack some shelves for a little bit of change."
