Dullanty Gets His Shot At The Big Show
He's got the nickname, "Psycho Kelly", and If you ask anyone associated with the 24 year old, they'll tell you, "Kelly is really psychotic". Javier Mendez, one of his trainers, goes on to explain that he never holds back in anything in what the man does. He speaks his mind and then he'll try to rip your head off. At only 4-0 he stands ready to make a huge leap in competition and get to do what almost every single fighter in the MMA world wants, a shot in the "Ultimate Fighting Championship."
Dullanty Gets His Shot At The Big Show
He’s got the nickname, "Psycho Kelly", and If you ask anyone associated with the 24 year old, they’ll tell you, "Kelly is really psychotic". Javier Mendez, one of his trainers, goes on to explain that he never holds back in anything in what the man does. He speaks his mind and then he’ll try to rip your head off. At only 4-0 he stands ready to make a huge leap in competition and get to do what almost every single fighter in the MMA world wants, a shot in the "Ultimate Fighting Championship."
It wasn’t supposed to be like this though. Matt Serra, Kelly’s upcoming opponent in UFC 36, was originally supposed to face Din Thomas. After Din suffered a serious knee injury in training, Matchmaker Joe Silva pressed to find a replacement on very short notice. A lot of names were thrown around, including American Kickboxing Academy fighter, Josh Thompson, who last fought one of the best and fastest rising Featherweights in the world, "Kid" Yamamoto, to a no contest. Josh usually fights one weight class up at 155 lbs. But, because Josh has been in Ohio not training much, he had to be ruled out. Kelly Dullanty, his teammate, got the nod.
Kelly Dullanty after his 51 second KO at KOTC, with "Crazy Bob Cook and Frank Shamrock.
Though Kelly is a relative unknown, his style could be a perfect match for Serra. Kelly will try to knock you out, plain and simple. According to his trainers, he has developed outstanding stand up skills with a big right hand. He has grappling skills too, and how could you not, fighting out of AKA. The amount of MMA talent that comes out of that gym rivals any other. He uses his wrestling skills to stay on his feet, or get back to his feet, where he wants to finish the fight. If, by chance, his opponent is just too dangerous on the stand up, like his fight with Duane "Bang" Ludwig, he has great takedown skills to bring it to the ground and control positioning. Serra, one of the best submission experts in the USA, is by all accounts, better on the ground, but has failed in both of his UFC fights to submit his opponent. Dullanty is a big 155 pounder and will want to use his size and strength to keep this one on the feet. It could just turn out to be a lighter version of Almeida vs. Seminov. By now you might be saying, "Oh yeah. Dullanty trains with BJ Penn, and that will better prepare him for Serra." Well, BJ is still on hiatus and the focus was never so much on Kelly. They were always preparing BJ for his fights. Now it’s Kelly’s turn for the big show. It doesn’t bother him one bit though. He has supreme confidence in himself and his trainers.
From left to right: Daniels, Shamrock, Dullanty, Thompson, Cook
He’s been at The American Kickboxing Academy since 1999 with the older breed of the Shamrock Team that has now evolved into the AKA team. Dullanty says, "I would say that I’m on team AKA representing Team Shamrock-something like that." More from the man in his own words:
MMARR: How do you feel about this opportunity?
Dullanty: We have so many great fighters in this gym. I’m just doing my part to help them train. I was expecting to have some fights come up and I was asked if I wanted to fight. I said "yes" to the fight before I even knew where it was and against whom. I’m definitely honored to fight in the UFC but I think of it as just another fight. Reason being, if I put too much pressure on it, I’ll lose the focus.
MMARR: How did he get into professional fighting and what brought him to AKA?
Dullanty: A good friend of mine-Danny Kelly told me that Frank Shamrock was training at AKA. I didn’t really know who he was. I knew of Ken Shamrock. So, I went down there and saw him train. I got to train and I went all out. I thrashed my way through a few guys because I saw that Frank was doing the same thing. I didn’t know he was training for a fight though. Afterwards, he asked me what my weight was and if I wanted to fight and I said "yes." MMARR: Think back and tell me a little bit about your life previous to this opportunity-back when you first came to AKA?
Dullanty: I used to stay at the school when I first got there. I slept there. Javier and "Super" Dave ("Super" Dave runs the day-to-day operations) helped me get squared away. They helped me get my life in order. They set me up with a place to live and a job. MMARR: So, where would you say your support is coming from?
Dullanty: I feel so privileged for the opportunity with the UFC because it’ll be a way for me to give back to the people that have helped me. I would say that that is my real victory-to be able to give back all that has been given to me. MMARR: What do you know about Matt Serra?
Dullanty: I have not seen any tapes on him. Crazy Bob and Javier Mendez felt it was not necessary. They set a game plan for me and they felt that it wasn’t necessary to worry about the details of Serra’s past. MMARR: What’s your plan against Matt Serra?
Dullanty: I’m hoping to knock him out. I’ve never really seen him fight. I heard about him before but I just want to go there and knock him the hell out. I’m hoping for an exciting knockout and I hope to give a helluva fight. MMARR: Do you think that the amount of time to train could be a factor in the outcome of your fight?
Dullanty: Honestly, I didn’t even think of it as a factor. I thought it was perfect timing actually. I’m thinking-"great-train for a couple of weeks-cool!" I train at a fairly consistent level to begin with and I’m ready to go. It’s not a hard transition really. MMARR: What would you say to Serra’s trainers/coaches?
Dullanty: I feel sorry for him, especially when I get done with him. I’m bigger, stronger, and there’s no way he’s going to submit me. Try slowing down a tornado. I train with Frank, B.J. and Crazy Bob, which prepares me better than well. All I can say is that Matt’s coaches could’ve picked an easier fighter. MMARR: What’s your motivation here?
Dullanty: I’m not doing it for the money. I’m doing this to give back to the people that helped me. MMARR: Anything else you’d like to add?
Dullanty: It’s all about the teamwork here. It’s not about one guy making it happen. I got the "3 Wise Men" (Javier, Bob, and Frank) behind me. And of course, my boxing coach Danny Kelly. If it weren’t for these guys, I wouldn’t be here. We’re a team and that’s the greatest thing about AKA and the guys behind the team, we act as a team, and think like a team.
 |
