Eric Kelly’s homecoming fight against Russian prospect Timofey Nasthyukhin may have been cancelled but he might just found himself a home.
In a press conference held at Kamayan-Dad’s Restaurant in Mandaluyong City last Thursday, Eric “The Natural” Kelly (12-2) revealed his training regimen before going into a fight that surprised a lot of press in attendance. “Mostly chinecheck ko yung aking skillset sa Youtube,” Kelly revealed. “Tapos nagpupunta din ako sa ibang team para maki-cross train. Inaapply ko yung bago kong natutunan sa Youtube then I gain more skills and knowledge.”
Talk about being a “Natural.”
After a submission loss against Ev Ting in Malaysia early this year, the 33 year old shared that he is tired of being a “nomad” in the sport as he is looking for a home camp. With limited funds to train abroad and tired of jumping from gym to gym before fights, the 33 year old admitted that in order to extend his career he needs to expand his knowledge in martial arts. “I’m nearly retiring at gusto ma-experience yung iba ibang klaseng art at gyms,” he said.
And one of the fight camps he is looking at is the fabled Team Lakay camp based in Baguio. “Pinaplan ko talaga kausapin sila, si Coach Mark (Sangiao), para kung ano yung mga puwedeng mangyari bago ilabas sa media,” Kelly said about the possibility of joining Team Lakay.
#MMA @TeamLakay celebrates Pitpituge's victory at the dugout. pic.twitter.com/SbuikHlj35
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) June 13, 2015
After PXC 53, Team Lakay head coach Mark “The Machine” Sangiao told Tiebreaker Times that his team is open to adding Kelly to their growing list of fighters. “Eric is a good guy naman. Mas maganda kung makasama din namin siya since kababayan din,” he said about their fellow Baguio-native.
“Kung gusto niya at nagdesisyon na siya na sumama sa amin, accepted naman (namin) tapos mas maganda kasi may tutulong pa sa boys.”
However, Sangiao admitted that Kelly, just like all the fighters in the camp, must follow the team’s house rules and that he will be given no special treatment. “Pero siyempre if that happens meron din sa team na masasagasaan. Siyempre may mga house rules na kelangan siyang sundin pag naki-join siya sa team,” The Machine added.
Even at the age of 33, Sangiao is still willing to coach the Baguio-native and believes that they could help extend the career of “The Natural. “Yes, kasi nakita naman natin kung ilang legends na nanapunta sa 40’s na ganiyan. Pero yung peak nasa 38 (years old) kaya mahaba pa yung taon para sa kanya pag gugustuhin niya,” Sangiao closed.
