Eric Kelly looks to trade strikes with dangerous Russian foe

MANILA, Philippines – Even if Russian combatant Timofey Nastyukhin presents too much danger in the striking department, Filipino fighter Eric Kelly has no qualms when it comes to trading kicks and punches with the highly-touted prospect. 

The 33-year-old Baguio City native is slated to lock horns with Nastyukhin on the undercard of ONE Championship’s “Global Rivals” event on April 15.

Despite coming into the scheduled 3-round featherweight contest as the heavy favorite due to his extensive prizefighting résumé and hometown advantage, many cageside observers believe that Kelly will have his hands full against Nastyukhin. 

Nastyukhin has never gone the distance in his 6-year professional run as a mixed martial arts (MMA) competitor, hauling 5 knockout victories and 4 submission wins.

The 26-year-old Russian’s last 4 triumphs came by way of knockout, including an emphatic conquest of Philippine MMA frontrunner Eduard Folayang in December 2014. 

Nastyukhin turned the lights off on Folayang with a flying knee and then nailed two soccer kicks on the ground to coerce referee Yuji Shimada to stop the action at 3:11 of the first round. 

Kelly knows the possible threat that Nastyukhin could bring, but he pointed out that he is willing to stand and bang with his opponent.

“To tell you honestly, I am in a very tough fight. It’s nerve-wracking in a sense, but I am ready to accept the challenge,” he told Rappler. “I want to trade strikes with my opponent. He is dangerous in that aspect, but I can see some loopholes.” 

Kelly asserted that he has a fair share of knowledge in terms of delivering blows from a toe-to-toe stance. 

“I might be known for my submission wins, but I also have striking in my arsenal,” he reminded. 

Before becoming an MMA fighter, Kelly was first introduced to Yaw-Yan, a Filipino style of kickboxing with emphasis on hip-torquing motion and delivering attacks from long range as well as the downward-cutting nature of its kicks. 

After mastering Yaw-Yan, Kelly then transitioned to Wushu Sanshou, where he represented the Philippines in various international tournaments from 2001 to 2004. 

When Kelly started his MMA career in 2009, he has been heavily regarded as a submission specialist, owning 9 triumphs by way of forcing his foes to tap. 

Kelly seeks to test his leverage over Nastyukhin, who was compelled to wave the white flag by featherweight contender Herbert Burns with a first-round rear-naked choke in September 2015. 

“I am prepared wherever the fight goes. If there’s chance to submit him, I will submit him. If there’s an opportunity to knock him out, I will go for it,” he said. 

“The Natural” admitted that he is fully aware of Nastyukhin’s astounding ability to roll with high-level grapplers on the mat. 

“If he’s dangerous in the stand-up department, he can also be dangerous on the mat. He trains with numerous black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I don’t want to be overconfident,” Kelly stated. 

Resorting to his bread-and-butter is stylistically the obvious option for Kelly, but he sets his sights on a knockout win. 

The last time that Kelly knocked out an opponent was in August 2012 when he stopped former UFC lightweight titleholder Jens Pulver in the second round with a left roundhouse kick to the body. 

“I am looking for statement win this time around. Knocking him out will be an accomplishment because he is a good fighter and a tough opponent,” Kelly ended. – Rappler.com