Darragh Kelly: 'Get me back out there!'

Darragh Kelly wants a swift return to action again after continuing his unblemished record.

The Moville mixed martial artist won on his US debut on Friday night when stopping Mike Hamel in Kansas - and now the Donegal fighter is eyeing up his next move.

Kelly is now 8-0 in the pro ranks and Friday’s win, via a submission in the third round, was the first bout of a four-fight deal with PFL.

Since a win over Dmytrii Hrytsenko in London last September, Kelly suffered injuries to a lateral collateral ligament and the AC joint of a shoulder.

He’ll have some niggles assessed by medics in the coming days to determine how quickly he can get back into the cage.

“If they’re good, I’m good to go,” Kelly said. 

“Get me back out there. Get me another pay day. Get me another name. Let’s keep the ball rolling.”

‘Moville Mauler’ Kelly, who operates out of SBG Dublin, has been looking at a date in Saudi Arabia later this year.

Ultimately, a place on the PFL Lightweight World Tournament next year is the aim.

Kelly impressed in finishing Hamel, forcing a tap with just over three minutes remaining.

“It’s almost like you’ve stole their energy; you’ve taken it from them,” Kelly said of that moment in the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita when he locked into a choke to finally break Hamel’s will. 

“When you see someone quitting in front of you or slowing, it’s like game on. You smell blood and then put it on. You can’t show weakness in there. You can’t show you’re tired. You can’t give any hope.

Read next: Darragh Kelly after stoppage win: ‘It was a great feeling when he tapped’

“Just as the fight went on, you could see it in his body language; he was breathing heavy and his demeanour was changing. I knew I would get him out of there before the final bell.”