KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Filipino fighter Eric Kelly shot down the notion that he is out to avenge his younger brother’s defeat at the hands of Malaysian-Kiwi stalwart Ev Ting as both men are set to collide in the main event of ONE Championship’s “Clash of Heroes” card on Friday, January 29.
According to the 33-year-old veteran from Baguio City, he does not hold any personal grudge against Ting, who knocked out Edward Kelly with a first-round head kick in October 2014.
“For me, it’s me pure business. This is my career. This is my work. I will fight to get the victory,” Kelly told Rappler.
Defeating Filipino combatants is nothing new to the 26-year-old native of Auckland, New Zealand as Ting came out victorious in 5 of his last 6 bouts against Filipino contenders, defeating the likes of Mark Abelardo, Rolando Gabriel Dy and Cary Bullos.
Ting also owns a second-round knockout win over American journeyman Will Chope, who gained popularity under the Philippine-based Universal Reality Combat Championship.
In his most recent victory, Ting submitted former ONE featherweight titleholder Honorio Banario in just 56 seconds with a first-round guillotine choke this past October.
“I will just do my job and also do my best against him,” Kelly said of Ting, who was last seen in a losing effort against a Pinoy competitor in February 2012 when he yielded to Mark Striegl via first-round submission.
Although he reiterated that there is no bad blood between him and his opponent, Kelly stressed that a decisive triumph over Ting will put a gleeful smile on his brother’s face.
“I believe my brother will be proud of me if I will get the win. But again, this is nothing personal,” he quipped
ONE: Clash of Heroes is set to take place at the 10,000-seater Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. – Rappler.com