Jun-6-2009
Slimline Kelly targets Knockout of the Night at UFC 99
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Womens G Velour Suit - Kelly Green
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By Elliot Worsell
When Liverpool’s Paul Kelly makes pre-fight forecasts, you’re usually well advised to sit up and take note. The Wolfslair standout sets out goals and targets with so much assurance and confidence, that you’d be mad to count him out.
On June 13 in Cologne, Germany, Kelly is looking to win Knockout of the Night. His opponent, former Ultimate Fighter competitor Rolando Delgado, is the man on the receiving end of Kelly’s plans.
“I’m 100% looking for a knockout in this fight,” says Kelly.
“Nothing else matters to me. I’d love another Fight of the Night bonus, of course, but I just don’t think Roli is going to stand there with me and bang for three rounds. He won’t do that.
“I’ve got to then look at picking up another bonus, and I’m confident I can score a Knockout of the Night in this one. It’s going to be a KO, bro.”
Back in February, Kelly told the world how he craved a “grueling, bloody war for three rounds” ahead of his UFC 95 clash with Troy Mandaloniz. Kelly felt like he needed that kind of fight to eradicate the disappointment of his first professional defeat five months previous.
On February 21st, Kelly and Mandaloniz engaged in a gruelling, bloody war for three rounds. Kelly lived up to his promise and snatched the victory.
“I’ll fight anyone in the UFC and I’ll bring it to them hard for every minute of every round,” says Kelly. “I want to go to war with every opponent I have. I love nothing more than entertaining the fans.
“To be honest, most of the time I’d rather have an exciting and memorable defeat than a boring win. I obviously want to win and improve my record, but entertaining the fans is my number one priority. No doubt. Hopefully I can entertain them with a beautiful knockout on June 13. ”
In order to give himself the best possible shot at grabbing that precious knockout at UFC 99, Kelly has heeded the advice of others and cut down to the 155-pound lightweight division. Formerly a teak-tough welterweight with wins over fellow Brit Paul Taylor and Hawaiian Mandaloniz, Kelly is now slim lined and ready to reap the benefits.
“The weight cut has been a lot harder this time round as I’ve dropped down a division, but I’m getting there now,” he says. “My weight’s fine.
“My diet has changed dramatically and that’s basically what helped me get down. I’m only going to weigh 155-pounds the moment I stand on the scales at the weigh-in. After the weigh-in I’ll put a load of weight back on and remain strong on the night.”
Although 2-1 in his UFC career as a welterweight, Kelly insists the best is yet to come as a 155-pounder. Currently 9-1 in his mixed martial arts career, Kelly considers lightweight as the division he’ll ultimately make his name in.
“I think this is the best decision I’ve ever made,” Kelly admits. “I’m looking to maintain my strength and fitness and really compete with guys the same size as me now. I’m not fighting the bigger welterweights anymore. I can’t see anyone being physically stronger than me at lightweight and I see that as a massive advantage.
“I never used to cut weight at welterweight. I had plenty of extra body fat as a welterweight and it was all fat that I didn’t need. My body fat has come right down now and that’s helped me get down towards lightweight.”
Kelly’s first assignment as a lightweight will be opposing Little Rock’s Delgado over three rounds. The man nicknamed ‘The Crazy Cuban’ is 6-3 in his mixed martial arts career and possesses spiteful knees and a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Kelly is aware of both.
“He’s better than he looks,” concedes the 24-year-old. “He draws opponents into that big knee he throws and is quite deceptive with the way he fights.
“You don’t think he’s doing much a lot of the time, but he always seems to be setting little traps here and there. His jiu-jitsu is also supposed to be pretty good, but I’m not really scared of that, to be honest. I’d happily go to the ground with him if he wants it there.
“Jiu-jitsu means nothing when I’m elbowing and punching you in the face. Once he sees blood, he won’t want to know and his black belt might as well be white.”
All in all, Kelly sees Delgado’s upright style as the perfect companion to his desire to make an immediate and dramatic splash in the 155-pound division. In eyeing up this UFC 99 contest, Kelly sees knockout written all over it.
“I just think I’m going to be way too much for Delgado, in all fairness,” he admits. “I’ll be too strong, too aggressive and too powerful for him. I see myself winning the fight by knockout in the second round. I’m very, very confident that will be how it ends.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to win this fight by knockout.”
Check the odds and place a bet. It wouldn’t be the first time Kelly has predicted an outcome to the letter.
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