Wendell Giacomo Replaces Koreshkov, Meets Paul Daley in Farewell Bout at Bellator 281

Paul Daley’s retirement fight at Bellator 281 suddenly has a little less marquee value.

After originally being slated to face ex-welterweight champ Andrey Koreshkov, Daley will instead lock horns with Wendell Giacomo at the May 13 event. The promotion confirmed the change on Tuesday following an initial report from Metro News. No reason was given for Koreshkov’s exit.

Bellator 281 takes place at OVO Arena Wembley in London and is headlined by an interim welterweight title tilt pitting Michael Page against Logan Storley. Also confirmed was the postponement of a co-main event showdown between Douglas Lima and Jason Jackson. A date for the rebooking is currently unknown.

Anchored at the Pitbull Brothers camp, Giacomo enters his Bellator debut with a 9-2 career mark. The man known as “White Walker” last appeared at LFA 112, where he defeated Uyran Carlos via unanimous decision this past July. The 27-year-old Brazilian has finished all but one of his triumphs inside the distance.

Daley, meanwhile, recently confirmed that Bellator 281 will serve as his farewell bout. The British slugger has won three of his last four promotional appearances but is coming off a decision loss to Jackson at Bellator 260.