• UFC 126

Paul Kelly refuses to rise to Cerrone jibe

ESPN staff
January 17, 2011
Paul Kelly had been scheduled to fight Sam Stout © UFC
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Paul Kelly has opted not to get involved in any pre-fight trash talk with Donald Cerrone, after the American claimed he did not even know who his opponent was.

Kelly epitomises the British fighting spirit with his go-forward, all-action approach, and he has shared the Octagon with the likes of Marcus Davies, Dennis Siver and Matt Veach during his career. The Liverpudlian is also coming off a comprehensive win over TJ O'Brien.

However, Cerrone - who steps in for the injured Sam Stout at UFC 126 - has an impressive CV that lists a recent failed WEC title shot at Ben Henderson, and he claimed in a recent interview that he had not even heard of Kelly.

"He's obviously a fan of the sport then isn't he!" Kelly quipped in an interview with ESPN. "I'm not going to get involved in trash talk because I want to be the respectful one out of the pair of us.

"If he wants to run his mouth, time has shown that that fails. If you run your mouth in MMA, you look like a fool. This isn't boxing, it's not WWE, we're pioneers of this sport. If it was legitimate beef, bring it. But he doesn't even know me."

Asked how much he knew of the American, Kelly was brushed up enough to know he will be facing an awkward customer on February 5, who mixes a clinical submissions game with effective stand-up.

"I know he's tall and he's rangy," said Kelly. "I know he likes to stand up so hopefully he comes to fight and we'll have a good bang-up. I also know he wears a cowgirl hat! And he likes to talk trash, but I'm too long in the tooth to get involved in that."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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