'Moville Mauler' Darragh Kelly looks for PFL takeoff in Wichita 

Wichita, Kansas mightn’t have been on the bucket list when Darragh Kelly dreamed of his American debut.

Yet, here he is, the ‘Moville Mauler’ in Wichita, known as the ‘Air Capital of the World’, ready to give himself a launchpad when he fights at the PFL World Tournament on Friday night at the Intrust Bank Arena.

Mixed martial artist Kelly, who is 7-0 as a pro and 16-0 across his career, fights under the PFL banner for the first time this week on his maiden fight in the United States.

Wichita has been a powerhouse in the aviation industry, shaping aircraft that powered both industry and warfare and the city remains a leader in aerospace engineering and aircraft production. 

It is here in the American midwest where Kelly will face Mike Hamel (11-6), fighting out of Glendale, Arizona - his latest opponent for a bout that has become a little frustrating in its build up. 

Hamel lost to Tim Wilde in 2023 and has been inactive since, but Kelly believes that the 32-year-old could pose a threat in parts.

While at Grand Canyon University in 2012-13, Hamel warned All-American honours in wrestling at the NCAA Championships.

Dylan Salvador and Chuka Willis have also been listed as opponents for Kelly since his announcement on this card.

Kelly said: “It has been a bit all over the show with the opponent changes. Mike is a very strong wrestler and that does throw a spanner in the works for us. 

“That’s the thing that can happen in this game, though. We weren’t training for a wrestler; we were planning for a striker. But you just have to deal with it, get the head right and go again.

“Every time the opponent changes, you get this bit of, maybe not anxiety, but the script does flip on its head. You just get back to what you did in camp and what you’re working on.”

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Kelly has been joined in the Sunflower State by his boxing coach Jordan Moore and sparring partner Kian McCarton. SBG coach Dave Roche will join Kelly before he goes to war with Hamel on Friday night.

This is Kelly’s first fight in a new four-fight deal with PFL, who acquired the Bellator franchise last year. While many fighters were left in limbo, Kelly was snapped up and there are real opportunities on the horizon.

PFL want the Donegal man to be active and PFL have a card in Saudi Arabai later in the year that may be put in the diary.

“If I could win the next couple of fights, the PFL Lightweight World Tournament would be the plan next year,” Kelly said. “That’s 100% something that I want to be aiming for.

“I’m just treating every fight as a must win situation. Right now, it’s just about getting my job done.”

Darragh Kelly and his team in Kansas this week

The road hasn’t been straightforward for Kelly since a September win over Dmytrii Hrytsenko. Kelly took out Hrytsenko’s unbeaten record with a points win at the OVO Wembley Arena, but tore his lateral collateral ligament in that bout.

After going on a training camp to Thailand, Kelly tore the AC joint of a shoulder, an injury that kept him out for four months.

“I’m not back long, but things have been good,” Kelly said. “I feel good. This is the best I have ever been for sure and my spars have never been better.”