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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
British welterweight Paul Daley has released a statement regarding what transpired at UFC 113 on Saturday in Montreal, where he sucker punched Josh Koscheck after their bout had finished. On the Telegraph website (via MMAWeekly.com), Daley said the following:
"I’ve had a long flight home to consider my actions and regret the mistake I made on Saturday. I would like to apologize 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.”
UFC President Dana White cut Daley following his actions on the event and said that "Semtex" will never fight in the UFC again. White said regardless of any apology from Daley that the decision would stand.
Next up for Daley is to wait to see for how long the Quebec Commission will suspend him, and then Strikeforce is a likely next destination when his suspension has been served.
Penick's Analysis: Kudos to Daley for owning up to what happened and issuing this statement apology. It's not going to change Dana White's stance on what happened, but it was important that he come out and address what happened and what he did. It was one of the dumbest reactionary things anyone's done in the UFC, and as he owned up to, no matter what was said or how the fight went down there wasn't any excuse to what he did. It's a highly unfortunate incident that has cost him greatly, and it's a terrible decision he's going to have to live with for the rest of his professional career.
RELATED STORY: PENICK: Paul Daley and Josh Koscheck both lose respect at UFC 113; Dana White makes the right call in cutting Daley: [CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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