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Kelly promises to 'smell Cerrone's breath' at UFC 126

Paul Kelly will test the heart of Donald Cerrone © Getty Images

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Paul Kelly has made the unusual confession that there is no chance of him submitting Donald Cerrone at UFC 126, but he does plan to make the American bleed.

Kelly has always been scathing of his own grappling abilities, admitting he completes one out of 10 takedowns in training, even though he has only failed with two that he can recall on actual fight nights.

The Briton does, however, boast some of the most nasty ground-and-pound in the UFC lightweight division, not to mention a willingness to engage that promises to test the heart of any fighter who shares the same cage. Cerrone undoubtedly starts as favourite in Las Vegas, but Kelly is ready to find out if the man with the cowboy hat is all about the bravado.

"From minute one I'll make this a fight," Kelly told ESPN. "I'll be in his face, I'll smell his breath, and I'll be giving him everything I possess in my arsenal. He thinks I come from a boxing gym, but I'll be coming at him with flying knees, punches, kicks, takedowns... the only thing you can rule out is the submission."

In five UFC victories, Kelly has only won one by submission - defeating Matt Veach via guillotine choke. By contrast, 11 of Cerrone's 13 career wins have produced a tap, with six coming by triangle choke. Kelly's last opponent, TJ O'Brien, boasted a similarly impressive record when it came to the triangle, and the Briton also trains with the world record holder for consecutive triangle submissions in Paul Sass.

"I know I got submitted by Marcus Davies but I'm a hard man to submit," stated Kelly. "I'm not going to submit him - I'll tell you that straight, I won't submit him. If it comes to the position where I can submit somebody or stick my elbow in their forehead and make them bleed, I'll stick my elbow into their forehead because I've got sharp elbows that make people bleed.

"The last guy who I fought had a world record with triangle chokes and I train with Paul Sass who has a world record for consecutive triangle chokes. O'Brien tried one and he got punched in the face. This isn't jiu-jitsu, it's not boxing, it's not wrestling, it's MMA. People forget that. They get carried away with jiu-jitsu, which is great on a mat or in a jiu-jitsu competition, but this is mixed martial artists."

Cerrone has also claimed that he will be able to use his lengthier frame to keep Kelly at bay, believing the Brit to be a one-dimensional boxer, to which Kelly replied: "We'll see about that. Come to my Thai boxing gym."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.