Bellator 232 results: Paul Daley flattens Saad Awad, earns TKO win

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – A striker through and through, Paul Daley reminded everyone of his punching power on Saturday night.

For the first time since 2017, Daley (42-17-2 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) picked up a finish win when he knocked out Saad Awad at 1:30 of the second round in the Bellator 232 co-main event.

Perhaps for the first time in years, Daley found an opponent who was willing to stand and trade with him in the pocket. While Daley dished more big strikes than he received, Awad (23-13 MMA, 11-10 BMMA) found a home for a handful of big strikes throughout the fight.

Daley’s back elbows, hooks, and straights galore set the tempo for the rest of the fight. After a decisive first round, Daley saw an opening to finish the fight in the second round and capitalized on it.

Daley threw a right outside leg kick followed by a huge looping left hook. Overextending, Awad ate a massive punch from Daley, which sent him crashing to the canvas. A few follow-up shots was all it took for referee Kevin MacDonald to waive off the contest.

Awad was not Daley’s original opponent. Sabah Homasi was forced to withdraw from the fight against “Semtex” due to injury. Awad, who last fought on Oct. 4, moved up a weight class to take the fight on less than a week’s notice.

With the loss, Awad has now lost four straight fights. Daley has now won back-to-back fights since being eliminated from the Bellator welterweight grand prix by rival Michael Page.

The welterweight bout was the Bellator 232 co-main event at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 232 results include:

• Paul Daley def. Saad Awad via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:30
• Patrick Mix def. Isaiah Chapman by submission (Suloev stretch) – Round 1, 3:49
• Manny Muro def. Nick Newell via split decision (29-28, 27-29, 29-28)
• Kevin Ferguson Jr. def. Craig Campbell by TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:38
• Ryan Hardy Evans def. Demetrios Plaza via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:03
• Lance Gibson Jr. def. Dominic Jones via knockout (strikes) – Round 1, 1:58
• Devin Powell def. Marcus Surin via technical submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 5:00
• John Lopez def. Dan Cormier via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jornel Lugo def. John Douma via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
• Zarrukh Adashev def. Tevin Dyce via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:39