Tony Kelley

Tony Kelley is an MMA veteran who turned professional in 2012 and was featured on MTV's reality series 'Caged' alongside future UFC star Matt Schnell. Operating out of Shreveport, Louisiana, Kelley built an impressive 6-1 regional record before earning his UFC debut at UFC 252 in August 2020, where he faced Kai Kamaka III. Though he lost that bout via unanimous decision, the fight was competitive enough to earn both fighters a Fight of the Night bonus, signaling promise in the octagon.

Kelley fights as a balanced mixed martial artist with finishing power in both striking and grappling. Across his UFC tenure, he recorded three wins by knockout and three by submission, with three first-round finishes on his overall record. A black belt in Kyokushin karate with a BJJ purple belt, he lands significant strikes at a 47% accuracy rate and favors standing exchanges over wrestling, though his takedown defense (52%) suggests opponents have tested his grappling. His most notable victory came in December 2021 when he stopped Randy Costa via second-round TKO at UFC 269, keeping his UFC dream alive.

Kelley's trajectory shifted sharply in May 2022 when he drew heavy criticism for comments made while cornering his girlfriend Andrea Lee during her UFC fight. Referring to her Brazilian opponent Viviane Araujo, Kelley called her 'dirty fucking Brazilians' and accused the opponent of cheating. The remarks sparked backlash across the MMA community and became a defining moment in his public perception. His final UFC fight came just weeks later in June 2022 against Adrian Yanez, whom Kelley had also antagonized by calling him a 'wish version' of Jorge Masvidal. Yanez responded by brutally knocking out Kelley in the first round in front of his home-state crowd in Austin, Texas, a result widely celebrated by fans and reportedly even encouraged by UFC staff who had grown frustrated with Kelley's conduct. He was released from the promotion shortly after and has not fought since, remaining inactive from professional competition.