Just to keep you on your toes, both Nate Kelly and Nathan Kelly, no relation (and definitely not the same person) are in action on the Bellator Belfast card this Friday.
The younger of the pair, Nate Kelly, is competing as an amateur, a rare sight on a major mixed martial arts card, though not unheard of (Biaggio Ali Walsh, who had a standout amateur run, competed five times for the PFL before turning pro earlier this year).
At just 19, bantamweight Kelly is making his Bellator debut on Friday against Jordan Elliott, having previously competed for the PFL. As for when he plans to turn pro, “it’s all about timing,” he told Cageside Press during this week’s Bellator Belfast media day.
It’s also all about his SBG Ireland head coach.
“I can say whatever I want, can I have my own plans or whatever I can think but it all comes down to the boss, John Kavanagh,” stated Kelly. “If he tells me 2026 then it’s going to be 2026. I never go against John’s word. So it’s about just sitting down with John when the year’s out and see where we’re at and see what he thinks. Because his opinion matters most, he sees me day in and day out in the gym. He’s the closest to me in that sense. Whatever plans I have will only be going ahead if they’re backed by John and John thinks it’s what’s best for me.”
2025 seems to be the goal for Kelly, at least, but again it all comes down to his coach giving the green light.
“So I’ll see where I’m at by the end of the year, and see how many fights we get in, see how I’m performing in the cage and if I’m happy, and then we can go from there and I’ll sit down with John. And hopefully early 2025 I’ll be taking that jump.”
Watch the full Bellator Belfast media day appearance by Nate Kelly above.
