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06 Sept 2025

Kelly takes first pro title as Furey earns impressive pro debut win

On a day when Darragh Kelly won the Clan Wars lightweight title, Letterkenny man Jordan Furey made noise on his professional MMA debut in Belfast

Kelly takes first pro title as Furey earns impressive pro debut win

Darragh Kelly landed his first professional strap as Jordan Furey launched his professional mixed martial arts career in style.

The Donegal duo starred at Clan Wars 47 on Sunday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast.

'Moville Mauler' Kelly won the Clan Wars lightweight belt via a second round stoppage while Letterkenny man Furey took victory inside the opening round.

Kelly was given permission by Bellator – with whom he has two remaining fights on a contract – to take to the cage in Belfast.

Kelly, who trains under John Kavanagh at Straight Blast Gym in Dublin, moved to 4-0 in the pro ranks after stopping Brazilian Andre Ferreira.

In the opening round, Kelly showed some worth from a five-week training camp in Thailan.

Ferreira was sometimes dangerous and Kelly sustained a cut following a clash of heads.

In the second round, Kelly earned a stoppage as a D'Arce choke ended Ferreira's evening and the strap was soon adorning the Donegal man's shoulder.

Pending the affects of the cut, Kelly – who sparred with PFL world champion Brendan Loughnane in Thailand - can be expected to line up under the Bellator banner again in September as he seeks to rise up the promotion's rankings.

Jordan Furey with his team.

Earlier in the evening, Furey wasted no time in having his hand raised. In the cage for the first time as a professional, the 23-year-old put Gabriel Marcel da Silva to the sword.

Furey floored da Silva with a deadly right hand. Furey unleashed a flurry of lethal punches and the referee stepped in to hand the Letterkenny man – who is now also based at SBG – a maiden professional win after a 10-2 amateur career.

Meanwhile, Ballybofey man Andrew McPhearson, who was making his fight debut on the card, lost out to Eoghan Gorrell on a unanimous decision.

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