IRISH STRAWWEIGHT FIGHTER Aisling Daly is set to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s octagon this evening.
Having made a successful debut back in December, the 27-year-old Dubliner will be aiming for her second UFC win when she kicks off the action against home favourite Randa Markos at UFC 186 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
It’s a very important bout for Daly, and here’s why we think you should be tuning in…
1. Win or lose, she always entertains
Ais Daly’s fights are never boring. There might be five defeats on her record (15-5), but she’s only been stopped once during a professional career that began eight years ago. And only twice in 15 wins has she needed the nod from the judges. She may have been edged out via decision, but her 2012 bout against fellow UFC veteran Rosi Sexton was a classic.
2. She’s the only Irish female in the UFC
Daly made her professional mixed martial arts debut way back in May 2007 so her journey to the sport’s leading organisation has been long and arduous. When the UFC announced the introduction of a strawweight (115lbs) division in November 2013, Daly was a prime candidate for inclusion. She earned her spot via an appearance on The Ultimate Fighter last year, during which she defeated Angela Magana. Daly is currently ranked 10th in the division.
3. She’s training with some of the best in the business
Another member of Dublin’s Straight Blast Gym team, Daly has no shortage of world-class training partners. Under the guidance of top coach John Kavanagh, she’s one of five UFC athletes currently representing SBG, alongside Conor McGregor, Gunnar Nelson, Cathal Pendred and Paddy Holohan.
4. She’s already fought many of the top fighters in the game
Daly has plenty of notable wins on her record, with fellow UFC fighters Jessica Eye and Alex Chambers among her previous victims. Her five losses have only come against other UFC veterans — Lisa Ellis, Sheila Gaff and Rosi Sexton — or current Invicta FC champions — Barb Honchak and Katja Kankaanpaa. In other words, it takes something special to beat Ais Daly.
5. She looked great in her UFC debut
Australia’s Alex Chambers stood between Daly and a successful debut for the UFC last December in Las Vegas, but the Irishwoman finished her opponent inside the first round with a clinically-executed armbar submission.
https://vine.co/v/O662Zmug3zZ
6. She’s closing in on a title shot
With Joanne Calderwood slipping up last week at UFC Krakow, there’s a vacancy in the number one contender slot in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s strawweight division. A victory against Randa Markos tonight might not be enough to secure Daly a shot at reigning champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk just yet, but it’ll certainly bring her to within touching distance.
7. You can watch the fight live and still be a functioning member of society tomorrow
Aisling Daly versus Randa Markos is the very first fight on tonight’s UFC 186 bill, so you won’t have to stay awake throughout the night to watch the action. The bout will feature on the UFCFightPass.com preliminary card, which kicks off at 11.30pm Irish time. If you’re not planning to stay up to watch the rest of the event live, Ais ‘The Bash’ should hopefully be 2-0 in the UFC before midnight, leaving you free to head off to the leaba at a civilised hour. That means you should still be feeling as fresh as a daisy by the time Where In The World? starts on Sunday evening.
He’s not a playmaker they’re relying on him too much
Refreshing to see an actual African managing an African team and not some old white guy with floppy hair.
@Kris Ertz: that’s very racist of you
@Alana: Not racist. It is refreshing to see African managers reaching their potential. They are nearly invisible in the game. And like he said, in their place, European hasbeens.
@Alana: you really are a sad sad little boy
@Kris Ertz: Tunisian manager is African also
Another Liverpool player under performing
@Crpytoalchol: what about kingpog ? He’s the world leader in underperforming, but at least his hair looks cool
Another bitter man utd fan
@Alana: king Pog
@Just a buiscuit: what’s there to be bitter about? Hahaha
@Crpytoalchol:
Where do I start?
A horrible hasbeen manager implementing horrible football backed up by dabber pogs and mr mercenary senor Sanchez is a good start to be bitter I suppose!! Mouring the fact that yer not even the best in yer own City would bring on even more bitterness.So your only medicine for your bitterness is to bring Liverpool players into a discussion and have a cut off them .All of this screams bitter to me .
@Crpytoalchol: #pog$h1t
@Just a buiscuit: ye haven’t won anything in 6 years……. I could never be bitter to a club like that. Just feel sorry for the supporters of that club
How could mane play well with that donkey beside him,he would push the danish guy close for the worst forward at the tournament