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Paul Kelly ready to teach Volkmann a lesson in respect

Paul Kelly left Matt Veach needing stitches © Getty Images

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England's Paul Kelly has hit back at Jacob Volkmann ahead of their August 1 encounter, insisting he will leave the Minnesota Martial Arts grappler looking red-faced.

Kelly has remained respectful of Volkmann in the build-up to their lightweight clash at the UFC on Versus event headlined by Jon Jones v Vladimir Matyushenko, previously telling ESPN.co.uk: "You can't underestimate Volkmann... 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."

However, Volkmann has stoked the fires in return, questioning whether Kelly belongs in the same ring as him despite the Brit's emphatic stoppage of Matt Veach at UFC 112. Volkmann has also queried Kelly's knockout power, with the Team Kaobon man still searching for his first UFC KO.

Kelly's only two career losses have come via submission to Marcus Davis and by TKO after Dennis Siver broke his ribs, and the Liverpudlian is ready to serve some humble pie to Volkmann in San Diego.

"The gameplan is to smash him clean out," Kelly told ESPN.co.uk whilst simultaneously sticking to his strict diet by eating a plate of salad.

"He's been talking about me hasn't he? Questioning my punching power and my credibility. So on August 1 I'm gonna knock him out, and then how's he going to look?

"I don't disrespect my opponents. I say what I think I'm going to do, and he can do the same, but he shouldn't be questioning my ability. I've never done it to him.

"He said he thinks he's going to beat me, which is fair enough. But who is he to question my background when I've only lost to Marcus Davies and Dennis Siver, when a spinning back kick broke my ribs? We'll see on August 1."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.