British MMA pioneer Paul Kelly started fighting professionally in 2005, entered the UFC with a perfect 7-0 record, and his big show debut was a Fight of the Night victory. He went 5-4 in the UFC; his last fight, a loss to Cowboy Cerrone, in 2012, that won Fight of the Night too.
Kelly had three more fights, all victories inside the distance, in 2012, 2013, and 2020. The gap was due to a long sentence for narcotics trafficking. Kelly recently reflected on a January interview with Conor McGregor, in which “The Notorious” was read a quote he made the year he entered the UFC.
“I’ve lost my mind on this game like Vincent Van Gogh dedicated his life to his art and he lost his mind in the process,” said McGregor in 2013. “That’s happened to me, but f*** it – when that gold belt is around my waist and my mother has a big mansion, my girlfriend has a car for every day of the week, and my kids’ kids get everything they ever wanted, then it will pay. Then I will be happy I lost my mind.”
“This hit home… that mindset in his prime,’ wrote Kelly on his social network. “Any fighter worth his salt can resonate with what’s been said here. We all had the same dreams on them lonely nights, the mindset to outwork our opponent. We commit our life and our best years to a sport. Lads’ holidays, nights outs, all in the past moments missed. Every fight we leave a little part of us in that cage/ring.
“I had my time! and I would never change my path. MMA gave me a life I would never have dreamed of, met people I would never have met. No drug can compare to the feeling of getting your hand raised after walking out for a straighter with 20k watching.
“At some point we have to let go. I was full committed to trying one more time with the gaffer Team Kaobon to win a British title. COVID has taken another year, so am calling it a day.
“My life is on a different path now, one that means I can’t commit my life to fighting anymore like my opponent will be. Winning is winning and for me now winning is making sure my family has a bright future and to play catch up for the last 6 1/2 years spent away. I’ll miss fighting.”
