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Kelly ready to lose first round in Veach battle

Paul Kelly is ready for a long fight with Matt Veach © Getty Images

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Paul Kelly is expecting Matt Veach to come flying out of the traps in their fight at UFC 112, but the Brition insists he is "not arsed" if he loses the first round in Abu Dhabi.

In the UFC's historic first visit to the United Arab Emirates, Kelly will fight on the preliminary card against a man whose only loss came at the hands of No. 1 lightweight contender Frankie Edgar. In fact, victory over Veach catapulted Edgar to his forthcoming shot at champion BJ Penn.

Edgar had to fend off some concerning early exchanges against his American opponent back in December, spending a lot of the first round on his back as Veach implemented his powerful wrestling game. In the end Edgar dropped and submitted the H.I.T Squad fighter, but Kelly admits he may have to follow a similar template to record his 10th career win.

"I see the first round being a hard round," Kelly told Espn.co.uk. "Unless I knock him out early, I see it being a tough round for me. Veach has got really good wrestling, but anyone who has seen me fight knows I'm going to make him work 100mph.

"I know the first round will be hard, but I'll end up stopping the fight. Veach is a good wrestler but I'm known for my wrestling as well and he won't have come across anyone as strong as me.

"First round he'll look to come out strong so I'll just break his heart, and then finish him in rounds two or three. I'm not arsed if I lose the first round, takedowns score big points, but I'll walk away with the TKO victory."

There is a feeling of needing to make up for lost time when Kelly talks, following his defeat to Dennis Siver at UFC 105, and he is intending on putting on a show come April 10.

"I'm hoping victory over Veach will rocket me back up the lightweight ladder. Edgar outboxed him, but I've got good boxing myself and I know I'm stronger than Edgar. It'll be a good fight, it'll get on the TV broadcast, but I'll take the W home."

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