Shreveport UFC Fighter Gets ‘Fight Of The Night’ Prize At UFC 252
It wasn't the exact UFC debut Shreveport's Tony Kelley hoped for, but it won't soon be forgotten.
In a year where every second of live sports are being savored, Tony Kelley and Kai Kamaka III put on the kind of show that will stay with people during UFC 252. The two UFC newcomers went the distance, and their fight was so good, it surpassed the main event title fight between Stipe Miocic and Louisiana's Daniel Cormier for Fight of the Night. That secured each fighter $50,000 for their effort...
The fight appeared to be a close call in the unanimous decision, with scores of 29-28 from all three judges, with Kamaka winning the decision. The fans online seemed equally as divided, and with the fight being the first of the night, it set a clear tone for the evening.
The UFC 252 event enjoyed huge success on social media platforms last night, partially due to the fact that the world is dialed into sports more than normal during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also because the curtain jerker last night was the kind of fight that causes a buzz.
Tony Kelley's professional fight record was 6-1 going into the match, with 3 wins by submission. His fights have come across multiple promotions, including three fights in Legacy Fighting Championship and a fight with American Kombat Alliance. He's now 6-2 in his career, with both losses coming by decision.
Before last night, Kelley was best known for the MTV show Caged. The 2012 show that followed the start of the MMA careers for multiple young men in Northwest Louisiana. Now that Kelley has had his first UFC fight, the show has spawned two UFC fighters, with the other being Matt Schnell.