"Semtex" Blasts Kosednar in Nottingham

“Maybe six months, maybe six years, who knows,” ended “Semtex” Paul Daley’s (18-6-2) retirement announcement in the Cage Warriors forum last February.

Well, now we know the exciting British welterweight’s hiatus would last even less than six months.

Fighting for the first time in his native Nottingham Saturday night, Daley blasted undefeated Slovenian “Zelva” Bojan Kosednar (6-1) with a left hook at 4:53 of round one.

Lights out Kosednar!

Kosednar had already hit the deck at the end of Daley strikes three times before being knocked out.  The end was inevitable.

Daley is signed to a ProElite contract and his dominant return may have earned him a title shot versus the winner of 26 July’s EliteXC Welterweight Championship fight between eighth-ranked Jake Shields (20-4-1) and ninth-ranked “Goat” Nick Thompson (36-9-1).

If he wants it…

“Once I’ve found the path I originally set out on in the martial arts, I may return to this sport,” Daley confided last February.

After two high-profile North American victories and talk of Daley cracking the 170-pound top ten, it’s interesting that the Muay Thai kickboxer chose to return in his hometown with a promotion he’s had a relationship with since his second MMA fight.

Perhaps the one time CageRage and FX3 Champion’s path has lead him home to Britain to stay.

“Metabolic” Paul McVeigh (14-5) defended his Cage Warriors bantamweight strap from Steve McCombe (7-3-1) by second round rear naked choke.

In the card’s other anticipated welterweight fight, “Hellboy” Joachim Hansen’s (17-7-1) pupil and Norwegian countryman Simeon Thoresen (9-0) tapped “12 Gauge” Matt Thorpe (10-7) in a Kimura in the first round.

“Judo” Jim Wallhead (14-5) scored a UD over welterweight Fabricio Nascimento (19-6), leaving Nascimento with consecutive losses for the first time in his career.

Italian heavyweight mean Matteo Minonzio (7-6) cut former pro pugilist Wayne Buck (4-1) to force a first round doctor stoppage TKO.

Lee Livingstone (5-1) tapped Wayne Murray (4-2-1) in a triangle choke.

Rocci Williams (1-5) lost his fourth straight in a Cliff Hall (1-0) guillotine choke.

Lightweights Abdul Mohamed (15-6-3) and Andre Winner (9-2-1) fought to a majority draw.

Chris Cooper (3-1) beat Tommy Rasmussen (0-3); Eddie Podolski (2-1) beat John Brotherhood (0-1); and Peter McGurk (3-0) beat John Phillips (6-2).