Tom Breese was certainly aware he wasn’t paid by the minute, as he made short work of Dan Kelly to top the UFC Liverpool preliminary card on Sunday.
England’s Tom Breese had been ridding a wave of success in the UFC, until dropping a split decision against Sean Strickland at UFC 199. Breese was then scheduled to face Oluwale Bamgbose at UFC Fight Night 107, however he was deemed unfit to compete and the bout was cancelled. After more than a year away, he returned at UFC Liverpool on Sunday to face off with TUF alum Dan Kelly. Kelly, who after collecting wins over fighters like Chris Camozzi and former champion Rashad Evans, found himself on a skid, having lost to Derek Brunson, then dropping an unanimous decision to Elias Theodorou.
As the action kicked off, Breese opened with a quick jab, and Dan Kelly fired back with a leg kick. Breese changed levels, and went to Kelly’s body. Breese then fired off a combination that backed Kelly up. Kelly answered back with a leg kick. Breese loaded up the jab and mixed in body shots. Both fighters were exchanging, with Breese getting off just a little quicker. Suddenly, Breese hurt Kelly with a uppercut to the eye that sent Kelly back to the fence, briefly turning his back. Breese was quick to close the distance, and rained down punches on the downed fighter that forced the ref to step in and end the fight.
Just like that, Tom Breese had the win, and for Dan Kelly, it may just have been the end of a career, given retirement talk prior to the fight.
Tom Breese def. Dan Kelly via TKO, Round 1, 3:33
