Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Tony Kelley
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Possible leg injury
Kelley is facing a potential 180-day medical suspension pending a MRI on his right leg and ankle, Nolan King and Farah Hannoun of USA Today report.
ANALYSIS
Even though it wasn't pretty, Kelley still picked up his first UFC victory against Ali Al Qaisi at UFC Fight Island 5 on Saturday. Kelley only absorbed 29 total significant strikes in the matchup, but 11 of those were to his legs in the third round. The UFC medical staff will ultimately force him to get it checked out before a return to competition can be cleared.
Even though it wasn't pretty, Kelley still picked up his first UFC victory against Ali Al Qaisi at UFC Fight Island 5 on Saturday. Kelley only absorbed 29 total significant strikes in the matchup, but 11 of those were to his legs in the third round. The UFC medical staff will ultimately force him to get it checked out before a return to competition can be cleared.
Picks up first UFC victory
Kelley defeated Ali Al Qaisi via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
It was a decent bounce-back effort for Kelley on the heels of his unanimous decision loss to Kai Kamaka in his company debut this past August. Kelley deserved to win, but a deeper dive into the numbers reveals some issues. Kelley won the total strike battle by a count of 61-58 (unofficially), but also allowed Al Qaisi to land 5-of-15 takedown attempts. In didn't cost him in this one, but Kelley is going to have to get that straightened out moving forward or he's going to be in trouble. Kelley will be 34 years old this coming January, so his ceiling looks to be pretty limited.
It was a decent bounce-back effort for Kelley on the heels of his unanimous decision loss to Kai Kamaka in his company debut this past August. Kelley deserved to win, but a deeper dive into the numbers reveals some issues. Kelley won the total strike battle by a count of 61-58 (unofficially), but also allowed Al Qaisi to land 5-of-15 takedown attempts. In didn't cost him in this one, but Kelley is going to have to get that straightened out moving forward or he's going to be in trouble. Kelley will be 34 years old this coming January, so his ceiling looks to be pretty limited.
Next bout set for October
Kelley will take on Ali Al Qaisi in a bantamweight matchup at the UFC event scheduled for October 10, MMA DNA reports.
ANALYSIS
Kelley will be looking to turn it around after losing a short-notice UFC debut in mid-August to Kai Kamaka. Al Qaisi lost his debut a week earlier under similar circumstances, falling to Irwin Rivera via split decision. Kelley will hold three-inch height and two-inch reach advantages.
Kelley will be looking to turn it around after losing a short-notice UFC debut in mid-August to Kai Kamaka. Al Qaisi lost his debut a week earlier under similar circumstances, falling to Irwin Rivera via split decision. Kelley will hold three-inch height and two-inch reach advantages.
Competitive in UFC debut
Kelley lost to Kai Kamaka via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC 252 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It was a highly competitive bout in which both men looked strong in their company debuts, and also saw both men walk away with a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus. Kelley got off to a slow start before slowing finding his range over the course of the final ten minutes. While Kelley looked more than competent on the feet, it was his poor takedown defense than eventually did him in. He allowed Kamaka to land all five of his takedowns attempts, and that was simply too much to overcome in a close bout. The 33-year-old Louisiana native had spent the entirety of his pro career prior to Saturday on the regional circuit. We'll undoubtedly see him again with the UFC.
It was a highly competitive bout in which both men looked strong in their company debuts, and also saw both men walk away with a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus. Kelley got off to a slow start before slowing finding his range over the course of the final ten minutes. While Kelley looked more than competent on the feet, it was his poor takedown defense than eventually did him in. He allowed Kamaka to land all five of his takedowns attempts, and that was simply too much to overcome in a close bout. The 33-year-old Louisiana native had spent the entirety of his pro career prior to Saturday on the regional circuit. We'll undoubtedly see him again with the UFC.
To debut at UFC 252
Kelley has agreed to face Kai Kamaka at UFC 252 on Saturday in Las Vegas, Nolan King of MMAJunkie.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Kelley and Kamaka are both featherweight fighters, though the official weight class was not confirmed by the report. Kelley is a Team Alpha Male product with just six pro fights under his belt, with the only loss coming against current UFC fighter Kevin Aguilar back in 2016. He'll take on a fighter eight years younger in Kamaka, who will carry a five-fight winning streak -- composed under KOTC, Bellator and LFA -- to his UFC debut.
Kelley and Kamaka are both featherweight fighters, though the official weight class was not confirmed by the report. Kelley is a Team Alpha Male product with just six pro fights under his belt, with the only loss coming against current UFC fighter Kevin Aguilar back in 2016. He'll take on a fighter eight years younger in Kamaka, who will carry a five-fight winning streak -- composed under KOTC, Bellator and LFA -- to his UFC debut.