UFC 95 Breakdown: The Undercard

Paul Kelly vs. Troy Mandaloniz

Power Ratings

Kelly
Striking : 2.0
Grappling : 1.5
Submissions : 1.5
Experience : 2.0
Total : 1.8

Mandaloniz
Striking : 2.5
Grappling : 2.0
Submissions : 1.5
Experience : 2.5
Total : 2.1

This bout was originally scheduled for last June but had to be postponed when Mandaloniz (3-1) aggravated a chronic neck injury. “Rude Boy” has been hand-picked as an opponent for Kelly. UFC brass sees Kelly as a promising second stringer behind English stars Michael Bisping and Dan Hardy because of his willingness to stand and trade leather.

Mandaloniz last saw action inside the Octagon in December 2007 when the 29-year-old Hawaiian knocked out fellow “The Ultimate Fighter” alumnus Richie Hightower late in the first round. His appearance on the sixth season of TUF was what earned him the contract with the UFC. As a member of Team Serra, he reached the quarter-finals of the competition before being eliminated by Matt Arroyo.

Bisping’s Wolfslair teammate, Kelly (7-1), showed a lot of promise in his UFC debut against countryman Paul Taylor in January 2008 and was subsequently thrown in at the deep end of the promotion’s welterweight division with a fight against Marcus Davis in his sophomore appearance. Davis proved to be out of the 24-year-old Englishman’s league at UFC 89, as he submitted him with a second-round guillotine choke.

* * *

Prediction: Even though Mandaloniz has a slight edge in striking and grappling, Kelly’s a pro at cutting weight and should come into this fight as the bigger man. “Tellys” also enjoys home-field advantage. Mandaloniz has resisted learning the ground game, and Kelly has solid Brazilian jiu-jitsu coaches at the Wolfslair Academy, so expect the Brit to grind out another decision victory.