Paul Kelly: Oh, Baby, I Aim to Do It Just for You!

Soft is probably the last word in the dictionary that springs to mind when describing Liverpool’s newest mixed martial arts star Paul Kelly.

After four years in the sport the Scouse scrapper has racked up a seven-fight undefeated record, with only three of his opponents making it past the two minute mark!

The ground-and-pound specialist carries a knockout punch in either hand and his no-nonsense approach to his sport has led to a meteoric rise to the top – culminating in his UFC debut this weekend at a sold out Newcastle arena.

Yet, before departing Liverpool to kick off a couple of days of closing press commitments, the 23-year-old revealed his softer side to the ECHO.

He said: “I used to compete just to get out all of my aggression and so I didn’t get into trouble on the streets. But now I have a real reason to become a success – a baby daughter.

“My first baby is due in May so all the hard work in the gym, the early morning runs, the hours of sparring and the weight sessions are not just for me any more, they are for her.”

Kelly is the latest Scouser to be signed up by the sport’s leading governing body, UFC, after Terry Etim and Jason Tan were signed up last year.

Yet the boxing enthusiast, who trains out of the prestigious Wolfslair gym in Widnes, will make a little piece of history on Saturday night.

Matched with Walsall’s Paul Taylor at the Metro Arena in UFC 80: Rapid Fire, the two middleweights will contest the first all-British fight ever staged by the US-based governing body.

And Kelly insists that the fight will be a cracker – an all out war.

He revealed: “Like in all contact sports, contrasting styles make for great fights and we are made for one another.

“He comes from a strong Thai boxing background and likes to stand up tall, keep things at range and pick his punches and kicks.

“But I love a good tear up and I’ll be all over him. I believe my boxing skills are better than his and my groundwork, too, so I will be taking it to him, that’s for sure.”

This will be Taylor’s third fight under the UFC banner after winning his first contest but then losing out via submission last time out.

Kelly added: “He’s fighting for his life here. Most people only sign three-fight contracts and this is his third fight. Lose here and he’ll be lucky to get another so he’s going to go all out or it could be curtains for him.

“But, of course, I’m not going to help him out. I wish him luck, but all I can do is urge him to come to fight and then we’ll both pocket a nice bonus for fight of the night,too.”

At 5’9” Kelly will be giving away three inches to his opponent, never mind a wealth of top level experience.

Included in his cage fighting record is a third round submission victory over Liverpool’s Carl Morgan from back in 2005.

But colourful character Kelly is fit, strong and very confident of making a big impact this weekend.

“Everything in camp has gone really well,” he added. “I’ve had a couple of niggling injuries along the way but I’m feeling great now and I am ready to go. It should be a great fight.”

The card, topped by the vacant UFC lightweight title clash, will also be screened live on Setanta Sports on Saturday night.

Source: icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk