This Friday, #PaulDaley defends home turf at @SSEArena against 'The Red King' @Rory_MacDonald. Who comes out victorious? #Bellator179 pic.twitter.com/xOSIHtkpIL
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 17, 2017
Leave it to the fearsome Paul Daley to lighten the mood during a face-off with Bellator 179 opponent Rory MacDonald. In a new video released by the promotion in advance of the upcoming event in London, British native Daley can be heard saying “you look tense” then later “chill out, bro” to MacDonald, eliciting a laugh from the assembled media.
Daley (39-14-2) enters Friday’s event coming off a brutal flying knee finish of Brennan Ward. That stoppage remains in contention for knockout of the year. MacDonald (18-4), meanwhile, will be making his Bellator MMA debut. The Canadian has lost two straight, albeit to top welterweight Stephen Thompson, and then-champion Robbie Lawler in a fight of the year classic.
Bellator 179 takes place Friday, May 19 at the Wembley Arena in London, England. After star Michael “Venom” Page was forced off the card due to injury, a light heavyweight scrap between former champ Liam McGeary and Linton Vassell was bumped up as the co-main event. Notable heavyweight Cheick Kongo also returns to take on Brazil’s Augusto Sakai.
Check out the co-main event face-off here:
"The Battle of Britain" Who walks away the King of England on Friday night? @Liam_McGeary or @LDV_TheSwarm? #Bellator179 pic.twitter.com/m2lmWWYDNC
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 17, 2017
Meanwhile, should MacDonald be victorious, there’s a chance we could see him fighting for the welterweight title sometime later this year. Possibly on Canadian soil.
