• UFC 116

Kelly gets Volkmann, then targets UFC 120 in England

Paul Kelly defeated Matt Veach via guillotine choke © UFC

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Paul Kelly has signed the papers to fight Jacob Volkmann at UFC 116 in Las Vegas, and he is targeting a quick return to the Octagon in October for UFC 120 at London's o2 Arena.

Kelly will appear on the undercard of the July 3 card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, which is headlined by the monumental UFC heavyweight title collision between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. Making his fourth appearance at lightweight, the Liverpudlian takes on former welterweight Volkmann, who is 1-2 in his UFC career.

Having beaten the highly-rated Matt Veach in his last outing, Kelly is now ready to build on the best performance of his career by fighting in the US for the first time. And the 25-year-old is adamant he wants to brush aside Volkmann quickly, so that he can target a return to the Octagon when the UFC comes to England in October.

"Hopefully it'll allow me to fight later in the year around October too," Kelly told ESPN.co.uk when congratulated on news of his latest match-up. "I'd fight everyday if I had my way. You learn more in a fight than you ever learn in the gym. I've fought three times in 21 days before.

"I'm not arsed about whether I get on preliminary or main cards. People see your fight over the internet anyway. I suppose it'd be nice to make a few people sit up when I kick Volkmann's ass though."

Kelly holds great respect for Volkmann, a man who narrowly lost to Martin Kampmann and Paulo Thiago at welterweight, before beating Ronys Torres in his lightweight debut. The gritty wrestler is nicknamed Christmas, after Jim Carrey's Dumb and Dumber character, and Kelly admits he would be a fool to underestimate him.

"You can't underestimate Volkmann, I've got to give him all the credit he deserves. He's wiry, he looks like his nickname 'Lloyd Christmas'. He looks like him! He's one of those guys that when you see him in the gym, you think you'll batter him. But then in the ring you're shocked by how strong he is.

"He's 1-2 in the UFC, but he's only fought good guys.

"But I feel like I can beat anyone on the planet. Now that I'm training with Colin Heron and all the guys at Team Kaobon, I feel really strong. I haven't had a proper strength and conditioning coach since the Paul Taylor fight, so now I'm finally back to my explosive best."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.