- UFC 126
'Gutted' Kelly officially lined up for Cerrone

Paul Kelly has admitted he was "gutted" to find out Sam Stout had withdrawn from their UFC 126 clash, but he is looking forward to the chance of taking a sizeable scalp in Donald Cerrone.
Kelly hold told ESPN of his excitement over a scheduled barnburner with Stout, claiming the pair had the potential to put on the fight of the year. However, Stout has been forced out of the bout by injury, allowing Cerrone to fill the void.
Cerrone is a former WEC No. 1 lightweight contender, and he has won his last two fights since losing that title shot to Ben Henderson. For Kelly, the chance is there for him to grab the attention of the US public, given Cerrone's history, but the Briton does not consider the Greg Jackson-trained fighter to be the best he has ever faced.
"I found out a week or two ago [about Stout's withdrawal] and, yeah, I was gutted," Kelly told ESPN. "But nothing against Sam Stout, who's a legend - he's in a war every fight, but there is probably more of a reward for beating Cerrone.
"I don't know why people think that [it's a step up in class]. Maybe on paper, but I've been in with tough guys, I haven't fought divvies - this is my ninth fight in the UFC. I suppose it carries more weight, but I don't consider it a step up in class."
Cerrone is a well-rounded fighter, who mixes a well-versed stand-up game with a submissions arsenal that has produced 11 tap-outs in 13 victories. He admits he has never heard of Kelly though, and the Liverpudlian insists Cerrone would be unwise to think he is just a boxer.
"In the gym I probably score one out of 10 takedowns. But in a fight I think I've only failed with two. Until Troy Mandaloniz I had never failed a takedown," said Kelly.
"I fight off instinct, I'm not necessarily a clever fighter. It's about timing, look at Georges St-Pierre, he fought Josh Koscheck who arguably has the best wrestling in MMA, but he took him down at ease due to his striking-to-takedown technique. That's why it's called mixed martial arts.
"The only prediction is that I'm going to win. I don't know if [Cerrone] is underestimating me, but I have never come to a fight not ready for a tear-up. If he expects to have me in his guard and submit me, expect blood because I will split his head open."
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