Josh Koscheck Out of Bellator 158; Paul Daley to Meet Ex-Champ Douglas Lima in London

Josh Koscheck’s Bellator MMA debut has been delayed once more, as the former UFC welterweight contender has withdrawn from his scheduled rematch with Paul Daley.

Bellator officials confirmed the news to ESPN.com on Monday. No reason was given for Koscheck’s withdrawal from the bout.

Koscheck signed with Bellator in June 2015 after exiting the UFC on a five-fight losing skid. The former NCAA Division I wrestling champion was slated to make his first appearance for the organization opposite Matt Secor at Bellator 148, but Koscheck withdrew from that matchup due to injury.

Daley will instead meet former Bellator champion Douglas Lima at Bellator 158, which takes place July 16 at O2 Arena in London. The card is currently without a headliner following the sudden death of Kimbo Slice, who was slated to rematch James Thompson in the show’s main attraction.

Daley has won five straight MMA bouts, including three inside the Bellator cage, as well as notching a decision win over fellow Bellator contender Fernando Gonzalez in a September 2015 kickboxing matchup. “Semtex” last saw action in January, when he knocked out Andy Uhrich in two minutes at Bellator 148.

After winning Bellator’s Season 8 welterweight tournament, Lima captured the company’s vacant 170-pound belt in April 2014 with a second-round stoppage of Rick Hawn. Injuries would keep “The Phenom” on the sidelines until July 2015, when he lost the title in his first defense against current champion Andrey Koreshkov.

Lima was scheduled to compete at this month’s Bellator 156 against Chidi Njokuani, who will reportedly receive a new opponent for the June 17 card.