With ONE title shot within reach, Edward Kelly motivated more than ever

Edward Kelly. Photo from ONE Championship

MACAU—Edward Kelly has always maintained a demeanor fit of a championship contender in ONE Championship, and he hopes his status as a fighter would ultimately become one.

Kelly (10-4) is hell-bent on getting into the featherweight title picture in the promotion and he eyeing a convincing win in his next fight against former champion Narantungalag Jadambaa in ONE: Pinnacle of Power on Saturday to put him into the conversation.

“I hope this fight would be my big opportunity, I will do whatever it takes to get this win,” said Kelly in Filipino at Studio City here in Macau. “I know I’m near the championship. I hope I get a chance.”

Martin Nguyen, who once beat Kelly back in 2015, is the reigning featherweight and lightweight champion and is one of the busiest fighters in ONE Championship as he also plans to add the bantamweight title to his already filled waist.

Bibiano Fernandes, the reigning World bantamweight champion, though, is sidelined with an injury and this predicament forced Nguyen to face Kelly’s Team Lakay stablemate Kevin Belingon for the interim belt in July.

Despite the things on Nguyen’s plate, Kelly still hopes he would be given a shot at one of the double champion’s belts.

“Martin’s been pretty busy, he’s fighting at lightweight, featherweight, and now in bantamweight, I just hope I get a chance,” said Kelly.