Edward Kelly wins make or break fight at ONE: Full Blast

Hard-hitting featherweight Edward Kelly of Baguio City's Team Lakay won his make or break fight against Ahmed Faress on the undercard of ONE: Full Blast on Friday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

It was a grappling match in the first round, with both fighters exchanging top positions on the canvas. Neither came close to getting a submission on the ground but it was Kelly who scored with his strikes here and there.

Both fighters traded kicks at the start of round two. Faress looked flat-footed barely halfway into the stanza until he caught Kelly locked in a triangle. The Egyptian poured everything he has into getting a submission but was unable to force a tap from Kelly.

Faress was totally spent in the last and final round. Kelly took advantage of his opponent's exhaustion by throwing calculated kicks and punches to the head and body, finding their mark again and again.

Two judges saw the fight for Kelly, earning him a split decision nod after three five-minute rounds. The 37-year-old from Baguio, who has contemplated retirement before this fight, improved his record to 13-8 while Faress dropped to 16-4.

—MGP, GMA News