Daley Calls Out MacDonald, Rory Responds

Paul Daley put the Bellator welterweight division on notice on Saturday, knocking out Brennan Ward with one of the most brutal flying knees in recent memory. After the decisive victory, Daley called out a fellow ex-UFC veteran, new Bellator signee Rory MacDonald.

"If Rory MacDonald gets in the cage with me," Daley said, "he’s getting knocked the fuck out."

MacDonald responded before the conclusion of Bellator 170. Taking to Twitter, the "Red King" was typically unintimidated by Daley’s callout.

MacDonald left the UFC last summer after losing to top contender Stephen Thompson in June. Bellator offered the former title challenger a lucrative contract, and he will look to make his debut in the summer of 2017. He has taken time off from the sport to allow his nose, which suffered severe damage in his last two fights, the proper time to heal.

A fight with Daley may be the kind of exciting matchup that Bellator will want to book MacDonald for his debut.

Daley (39-14-2) has won six of his last seven, losing to Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima last year. His knockout over Brennan Ward was devastating enough that he has leapt back into contention for either a title shot or a high-profile fight, like one with MacDonald.