Edward Kelly Expects To Deliver A Dominant Striking Display In Manila

Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly is excited to team up with Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and turn Team Lakay’s fortunes around in Manila.

At ONE: ROOTS OF HONOR, “The Ferocious” will make his second appearance in the cage this year when he takes on South Korean grappler Sung Jong Lee on home soil at The Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

“I’m thankful because I got another chance to prove that I’m still here, and [I’m] determined to rise up the ranks of the division,” he said.  

“I feel like I’ve made some wrong decisions in my previous fights, and I’m sure that I’ll make up for it this time around.”

It has been a difficult start to 2019 for Team Lakay as the Baguio City squad has struggled to match the exceptional results they achieved last year that saw four of their collective become World Champions.

However, Kelly says their confidence has not wavered, and he and Pacio – who will challenge for the ONE Strawweight World Title against Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta in the co-main event – are prepared to put on a show for the Filipino fans next Friday, 12 April.

“It’s not disappointing or disheartening. Instead, it serves as an inspiration for me to win and redeem myself,” says “The Ferocious.”

“I know that my teammates feel the same, especially Joshua [Pacio]. We’ll both be on the same card again in Manila, and we’re always talking in the gym that we need to get these wins.”

“So far, it’s been busy, but Coach [Mark Sangiao] has been able to spare time for each of us, telling us what to develop. After every training session, he groups us together to instruct us which areas we need to develop.”

Kelly was not happy with his performance the last time he entered the ONE arena, so he has stepped things up in the gym to make sure he delivers in front of the passionate Mall Of Asia Arena audience.

“I can say that this is a more prepared version of myself,” he says.  

“We added some extra training sessions, and I added some extra training by myself to take it up to three sessions a day. I hope that it will help a lot for my next match.”

On the other side of the cage, Lee, a NAGA No-Gi Champion, has gone toe-to-toe with some of the top contenders in The Home Of Martial Arts including Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon and Amir Khan since he made his debut.

After watching his opponent’s performances, Kelly is wary of the threat Lee poses, but he is confident he has the tricks up his sleeve to finish him in style.

“I think [I should watch out for] his ground attacks and submission attempts,” he explains.

“I should escape from those, and I should be able to dominate him in striking. Team Lakay has always been known for our striking, and I think I can use that to my advantage.

“I’m going to capitalize on that, but if I’m taken to the ground, I will defend as much as possible or escape if there’s a chance.”

The 35-year-old knows this is a crucial moment for his team, and for his future in the featherweight class. Because of that, and the fact he is competing in front of his countrymen, this is one of the biggest matches of his career.

Despite his determination to get a win by stoppage, “The Ferocious” knows the most important thing is to get his hand raised – by any means necessary.

“I know that I have to show my best to get that win and show that I’m still a contender to watch out for in the division,” he adds.

“Right now, the only thing I am focused on is getting the win. If I am blessed with a submission, a knockout, or a decision win, I would be thankful.”