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Below is another edition of Ask MMATorch, where MMATorch Editor Jamie Penick and MMATorch Columnist Rich Hansen answer your questions about anything in the world of MMA. If you've got a question you'd like either of them to address, please send it in to askmmatorch@gmail.com!
Nithanhyle writes:When do you think Paul Daley will be back in the UFC? He is worthy of that honor ten fold, despite his classless actions against Josh Koshchek.
MMATorch Editor Jamie Penick Answers: This has actually become a more likely possibility than at any point in the last several years. When Daley threw that sucker punch at Koscheck in 2010, Dana White said he'd never be back. But Daley's current four-fight winning streak and release this week from Bellator gives him an opening.
White told Ariel Helwani on Friday that Daley had shown he "didn't want to fight in the UFC," and left it at that, but Daley responded to that on Facebook Saturday, writing:
"Given the opportunity Dana, I would be right back in there, please just send me that contract."
So at this stage the ball is in the UFC's court. Daley remains one of the most elite strikers at 170 lbs., he's just had issues with both making weight and dealing with grapplers in the past. But he's entertaining to watch in the cage, and if the UFC wanted to add him back to the roster he'd be a deserving part. It just depends on if enough time has passed to leave the sucker punch in the past for the UFC.
I think it's certainly a possibility that we'll see Daley in the UFC again, and having Bellator release him this week makes it a viable option at this point. Again, it comes down to the UFC and whether or not they're willing to leave that incident behind and take Daley on his merits. He's 10-3 since his UFC stint, and his only stoppage loss came to Nick Diaz. He'd be a rightful part of the roster if they gave him a chance.
Maarten writes:"Talk about Cris Cyborg-Ronda Rousey at catchweight has increased again. I thought Cyborg looked massive at 145, so I can understand fighting at catchweight isn't really attractive, with Santos coming in the day after all ballooned up. Wouldn't a double weigh-in, one the day before, one in the morning of the fight be a solution? That way the smaller fighter wouldn't have to be afraid to fight a giant.
MMATorch Editor Jamie Penick Answers: A double weigh-in could be an option in this particular case, but it's a dangerous proposition on any wide scale for fighters. Typically a double weigh-in means a fighter can't be more than ten pounds over the contracted weight the next day, which would be a problem for someone who cuts a lot of weight to begin with.
I don't think it's something Cyborg's camp would agree to in the first place, which makes things difficult; and if they did then you run the risk of the fight being canceled if she then couldn't comply with a limit to what she could put back on after weigh-in. Additionally, I'm not a huge fan of the double weigh-in concept in general because of the added damage fighters could do to themselves while trying to stay on weight for a second day, then still fight that night.
On top of that, while it could certainly be a selling point for Rousey, given Cyborg couldn't then hydrate up to 160-170 lbs. the day after weigh-in, I don't know that it'd be enough for her to go along with the bout at 145 lbs. I really don't know that we'll see this fight unless Cyborg works down to 135 lbs. to make it happen, or unless they agree to a catchweight at 140 lbs.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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