By FCF Staff

Former UFC and Strikeforce star Paul “Semtex” Daley has signed with Bellator Fighting Championships and will make his debut for the promotion against an opponent to be named at Bellator 72 at University of South Florida’s Sun Dome in Tampa, live on MTV2, on July 20.

“I’ve been a Semtex fan for years,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “He’s an incredibly explosive fighter who is magic to watch inside the cage.  So, when the opportunity presented itself to join forces with Paul, it was a simple decision to make. Paul’s one of those fighters I’ve always intentionally stayed home to watch and now I can watch him cageside at Bellator.”

Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, by visiting the Sun Dome Box Office and at all Ticketmaster outlets including Wal-Mart. Ticket prices range from $30 – $120.

Hailing for Nottingham, England, Daley has enjoyed an incredibly successful career amassing a 29-12 record that includes 20 KO victories. “Semtex” holds victories over Martin Kampmann, Jorge Masvidal, Scott Smith and Duane Ludwig and at only 29 years old, the sky is limit for Daley in Bellator.

Daley standing over Scott Smith after KO'ing Smith at Strikeforce (photo via Esther Lin / Strikeforce)

“I’ve been a fan of Bellator for a long while,” Daley said. “When this chance came up, I was absolutely ready to make a long term commitment to Bellator. I have my sights set on winning the tournament and winning that Bellator title.”

Daley joins an impressive list of welterweights with Bellator, including reigning Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren, Season 6 Tournament Finalists Bryan Baker and Karl Amoussou, Ben Saunders and Douglas Lima. Even with the loaded lineup, Daley knows he has his work cut out for him.

“The organization has really been developing and signing a lot of the best fighters in the world, and it’s another reason why I signed with Bellator,” Daley said. “The tournament format is something that really stood out to me, and it’s a chance to face some of the best fighters in the sport. There isn’t anyone sitting at the top of the mountain top making decisions on who fights who, the fighters get to decide who is going to be the next champion, and that’s how it should be. Bellator does it right, and that’s why I’m here.”