Darragh Kelly overcomes tough test to score stoppage win on PFL debut

Darragh Kelly earned his latest landmark win on Friday night in Kansas.

‘Moville Mauler’ Kelly defeated Mike Hamel by submission in a lightweight bout.

At the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kelly halted Hamel with three minutes and nine seconds remaining in the third and final round.

Kelly is now 8-0 as a professional and, after bagging a win in the first bout of a four-fight deal with PFL, has an unblemished 17-0 record as a mixed martial artist.

On the PFL World Tournament card, Kelly submitted Hamel - whose record drops to 11-7 - with a face crank in the final round.

Kelly stayed patient for around 12 minutes on his return to the octagon before pouncing in the last stanza.

The 27-year-old Donegal man was given a test by Hamel at times, but Kelly - back in action for the first time since September and a win over Dmytrii Hrytsenko in London - came good for his sixth stoppage win as a pro.

Kelly, debuting in the United States, had the better of the opening round with Hamel managing to stay on his feet with the Donegal man aiming for a takedown.

While at Grand Canyon University in 2012-13, Hamel warned All-American honours in wrestling at the NCAA Championships and he attempted to wrestle Kelly to the ground in the second,

The pair traded a series of blows and Kelly did manage a takedown only for Hamel to get back to his feet.

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The experienced Hamel could have proved to be a danger, but Kelly gained a real foothold in the third round.

 Kelly locked in a bulldog choke and forced the tap, creeping into position with Hamel trying to mount a defence form a kneeling position.