'Really special, but I expected it' - Darragh Kelly savours dream debut

Darragh Kelly saw the moment often long before it happened.

As dream debuts go, Kelly bow as a professional mixed martial artist was right up there.

The Moville mixed martial artist needed just one minute and 47 seconds to defeat Junior Morgan.

The 3Arena crowd, including UFC star Conor McGregor, marvelled as Kelly submitted Morgan by guillotine choke in the first round.

Darragh Kelly records sensational debut win

Conor McGregor in attendance as the Moville man stops Junior Morgan in round one

“It was really special, but I expected it,” he told Donegal Live.

“It didn’t faze me at all. I’ve visualised the moment, the crowd, the song. I visualised everything and had it played in my head all the time. I didn’t get nervous. It just felt like any other fight.

“It’s amazing to be on the pro stage. It’s been a long time coming.”

Kelly was unbeaten in nine amateur fights and arrived to the pro scene with pedigree behind him.

A new striking coach, Justin Johnston, has been honing Kelly’s skills at Straight Blast Gym, where he works under the direction of John Kavanagh, McGregor’s coach who cornered Kelly for his big bout.

It was clear from the get-go that Kelly, frustrated following the late cancellation of his planned meeting with Morgan in November, wasn’t going to hang around too long.

Two early kicks rocked the soles of the Englishman. Kelly - and a vociferous crowed swelled by a couple of hundred Inishowen voices - smelt blood.

Kelly said: “That’s my style: When I come out, I’m going to hit you hard and you’re going to feel it. I’ll put the pace on.

“I’m going to overpower most and I’m going to hit them harder than they’ll hit me.

“I’ve been striking with Justin since December. I’ve come on leaps and bounds. We have talked through this moment so much.

“Everything went perfectly to plan from the low calf kicks, the back hand into the take down. The only thing I didn’t land was the overhand right, but I’ll save that for again.”

“My main weapon is my fighting IQ. I’m a lot smarter than most fighters. I’ll always find a way to get the job done.”