Paul Kelly
 |
Name | Paul Kelly |
| Nickname | Tellys | |
| Association | Wolfslair MMA Academy | |
| Weight Class | Welterweight (170 lbs.) / Lightweight (155 lbs.) | |
| Height | 5' 9" (175 cm) | |
| Style | Vale Tudo | |
| Birth Date | 1986 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Liverpool, England | |
| Country | England | |
| Paul Kelly Pictures | Official Website |
Paul Kelly is an English mixed martial artist currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Kelly trains out of Liverpool, England at the Wolfslair MMA academy which is home to The Ultimate Fighter 3 winner Michael Bisping.
Kelly started out at as a middleweight, began competing in the UFC as a welterweight, but currently has dropped to Lightweight.
[edit] Professional Record
| Record | 12 - 5 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 6 (T)KOs 3 Submissions 3 Decisions |
| Losses | 1 (T)KOs 2 Submissions 2 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Ryan Healy | Decision (Unanimous) | SFL 2: Super Fight League 2 | 4/7/2012 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Donald Cerrone | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort | 2/5/2011 | 2 | 3:48 | Fight won Fight of the Night Honors; Released from UFC following loss |
| Win | T.J. O'Brien | TKO (Elbows) | UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida | 11/20/2010 | 2 | 3:16 | |
| Loss | Jacob Volkmann | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC Live 2: Jones vs. Matyushenko | 8/01/2010 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Matt Veach | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | UFC 112: Invincible | 4/10/2010 | 2 | 3:41 | |
| Loss | Dennis Siver | TKO (Spinning Back Kick and Punches) | UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera | 11/14/2009 | 2 | 2:53 | |
| Win | Rolando Delgado | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 99: The Comeback | 6/13/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Lightweight debut |
| Win | Troy Mandaloniz | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 95: Sanchez vs. Stevenson | 2/21/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Marcus Davis | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben | 10/18/2008 | 2 | 2:16 | |
| Win | Paul Taylor | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 80: Rapid Fire | 1/19/2008 | 3 | 5:00 | UFC debut; Won Fight of the Night Honors |
| Win | Jordan James | TKO | CG 4: Cage Gladiators 4 | 8/05/2007 | 2 | N/A | |
| Win | Sami Berik | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | CWFC: Enter the Rough House 3 | 7/21/2007 | 1 | 1:27 | |
| Win | Soli Clichko | Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) | COW: Clash of Warriors | 7/14/2007 | 1 | N/A | |
| Win | Bruce Davis | TKO (Cut) | HOP 6: The Real Deal | 7/30/2006 | 1 | 3:38 | Won The House of Pain British Middleweight title |
| Win | James Neal | TKO | UF 1: Ultimate Force 1 | 11/26/2005 | 1 | 3:02 | |
| Win | Nigel Whitear | TKO (Punches) | FX3: Battle of Britain | 10/15/2005 | 1 | 0:54 | |
| Win | Ian McAleese | TKO (Punches) | CWFC: Quest 2 | 7/29/2005 | 1 | 1:21 | |
[edit] UFC Career
Kelly made his UFC debut at UFC 80: Rapid Fire, where he won a decision victory over his opponent Paul Taylor. Kelly and Taylor were both awarded $35,000 as a bonus for fight of the night.
Kelly was scheduled to fight Jonathan Goulet at UFC 85: Bedlam. But Goulet pulled out citing a lack of preparation. Before another opponent was found, Kelly himself had to withdraw from the event after injuring his right hand during training.
Kelly was defeated by Marcus Davis via submission at UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben.
Kelly defeated Troy Mandaloniz at UFC 95. Kelly battered Mandaloniz from top position throughout the fight. He opened cuts above both of Mandaloniz's eyes with elbows and punches. The judges scored the fight (30-27, 30-27, 30-28) for a unaminous decision for Kelly.
After the fight with Manaloniz, Kelly announced he was moving from welterweight to lightweight. Kelly said he wanted to make the drop after leaving the division on a winning note.
Kelly then fought The Ultimate Fighter 8 alumni Rolando Delgado at UFC 99: The Comeback in Cologne, Germany. It wasKelly's lightweight lightweight debut, and he made a successful debut, beating Delgado via unanimous decision.
On November 14, 2009 Kelly returned at UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera to face German mixed martial artist Dennis Siver, who went on to win the Knockout of the Night Honors by defeating Kelly by spinning back kick followed up with some punches. Kelly returned to action at UFC 112: Invincible, where he faced Matt Veach on the event's undercard. Kelly dominated the first round, and a series of cuts to Veach in the second round earned a look from the ringside physician. Veach was allowed to continue, but it was just a brief extension. Kelly locked in a fight-ending Guillotine Choke at 3:41 of the round to earn the win.
Kelly next faced Jacob Volkmann on the undercard of UFC Live 2: Jones vs. Matyushenko. The fight went on to the judges scorecards, with Volkmann earning the Decision (Unanimous) as he dominated on the ground. The loss put Kelly at 2-2 since dropping down to Lightweight.
[edit] Personal Life
Kelly had his first child, a daughter named Phoebe in June 2008.
