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Paul Daley signs multi-fight deal with Strikeforce

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Paul Daley is pulled away from Dustin Hazelett's corner by Herb Dean at UFC 108 on Jan. 2, 2010 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena . Daley won by knockout in the first round.

British welterweight Paul Daley has signed a multi-fight deal with the Strikeforce organization.

The news was released by Strikeforce officials Wednesday morning.

Daley (25-9-2) was one fight away from claiming a title shot against UFC champion Georges St. Pierre earlier this year but lost a unanimous decision to Josh Koscheck in May.

Following the loss, Daley threw a sucker punch at Koscheck, leading to his dismissal from the organization.

He bounced back from the loss with a unanimous-decision win over Jorge Masvidal at last weekend's Shark Fights 13 event.

Daley is as close to a pure striker as it gets in mixed martial arts. Of his 25 professional wins, 18 have come by way of TKO or KO.

"I am a striker. There is no secret about that," said Daley in a released statement. "I like to knock people out aggressively and quickly. That's my game, and no opponent is going to change that. Almost all my fights are exciting and memorable."

Daley has fought once before under the Strikeforce banner. He scored a second-round TKO over current UFC fighter Duane Ludwig on at a Strikeforce event in June 2007.

Not even one fight into his new deal, Daley has called out the 170-pound champion Nate Diaz.

"I'm looking forward to fighting for Strikeforce and would really love to fight Nick Diaz," Daley said. "He's a big name and a great fighter. Diaz would bring out the best in me and would be a great test."

Diaz already has a fight scheduled against K.J. Noons in October.

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at LVSunFighting

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