Dan Kelly

Dan Kelly is an Australian mixed martial artist and coach best known as 'Judo' Dan Kelly, a bridge between the judo and MMA worlds. He competed in the UFC, most notably fighting Steve Montgomery at the historic UFC 193 card in Melbourne in 2015, where Holly Holm pulled off one of MMA's greatest upsets by defeating Ronda Rousey. Kelly's fighting career established him as a capable judo-based grappler, but his lasting impact on the sport has come through coaching. He has become a highly respected mentor in the Australian MMA scene, most notably developing Sara Collins, an undefeated fighter who recently earned a shot at PFL featherweight champion Cris Cyborg. Collins has publicly credited Kelly with inspiring her own transition from pure judo to MMA, following in the footsteps of her coach's successful crossover. The pair trained together at their Australian gym, and Kelly's technical expertise in translating judo skills into MMA grappling has proven invaluable in Collins' rise to title contention. For fans who appreciate the technical side of combat sports and judo's evolution within modern MMA, Kelly represents an understated but effective presence: a veteran fighter who proved the viability of the judo-to-UFC path and now quietly develops the next generation of judoka competitors.