Nathan Kelly and a ‘Clear Vision’ for the Future

A perfect hellbow in display 🤌@nathankelly_mma represents Ireland on the world stage as he takes his shot at greatness as he enters the 2025 PFL World Tournament with the goal of a PFL World Title 🏆🇮🇪

The Toughest Test in MMA. 8️⃣Fighters. 8️⃣ Divisions. Single elimination… pic.twitter.com/wFhO8pnaf0

— PFL (@PFLMMA) February 14, 2025

Not many mixed martial artists move up in the world in the immediate aftermath of a setback. Nathan Kelly started his 2025 campaign with the Professional Fighters League in inauspicious fashion, as he submitted to a second-round rear-naked choke from Akhmed Magomedov at the PFL Champions Series event on Jan. 25. The loss snapped a 10-fight winning streak for the Irishman.

Nevertheless, Kelly was entered into the 2025 PFL World Tournament, as the company moves away from its point format to a single-elimination grand prix across various weigh classes. In another noteworthy change, elbows will be allowed from beginning to end. It offers the 27-year-old Kelly a chance to bounce back in a major way.

“I’m very happy,” he told Sherdog.com. “I think it gives me time to get right back into it and not sit around and wallow in self-pity—not that I would anyways. I have a positive mindset in victory or defeat. I’m not a sore loser, and I’m not a sore winner, either. I’m happy to get straight back in and have something to look forward to. Now I have an opportunity to make history.”

Kelly now focuses on the challenges ahead and the opportunity to become a PFL tournament champion—an opportunity that could fetch him $500,000 in prize money.

“It’s a path. It’s a clear vision, a clear trajectory,” he said. “You can plan out your year for fighting. I’m going to get the win, move on, then get the win and move on. I’m going to have three fights this year in the next six months. It’s huge for me for activity, for one, for two financially and for three my own glory. Everything involved in that, I’ll have all three: activity, financial and personal satisfaction. I think it’s really good I have it close right after my last fight. I’m still in great shape from my last fight. I’m able to put a lot of steam and effort into this. I’m picking up where I left off.”

The tournament, which starts in April, also allows Kelly to represent his Irish heritage at the sport’s highest level. Part of that involves learning from recent adversity and putting it behind him.

“No, we’re not going away because of a loss,” Kelly said. “If you let that define you, you’re just going to get stalled and set back even further. This is mixed martial arts. It is a fast-moving sport. People lose every week, and they’re on to the next fight. It’s no different for me. It’s my job to fight. Win, lose or draw, I’m moving on to the next goal, moving on to the next challenge. To sit around and do nothing after a loss is pointless in my mind.”

Kelly wants to make the most of the chance the PFL has provided him.

“The opportunities I’ve been given by PFL have been great,” he said. “I’ve got some big opportunities. They gave me ones that most people would dream of. This is just another one I’m getting, and I’m blown away by their support and backing of me. It’s great. It’s surreal to me to be in something as big as this, for them to believe I’m going to be part of the next generation that they’ve invested in. I’d be at a loss for words most of the time, but all I’ll say is, if you back me, I’ll do as much as I can. It’s in my best interest to give back to them. The only way I can sincerely thank them is by how I perform in the cage.”